The lawmaker representing Bayelsa East Senatorial District and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Oil and Gas Host Communities, Distinguished Senator Benson Agadaga, says his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) was motivated by the need to protect Bayelsa’s political and developmental future.
Speaking during an interactive session with the National Assembly New Media Forum on Wednesday, Senator Agadaga said deepening internal divisions and weakened leadership within the PDP created uncertainty about the party’s direction, prompting key stakeholders to seek a more stable platform.
According to him, Bayelsa long considered a stronghold of the PDP could no longer afford to remain both a minority state and a minority party in the national political equation.
“Change is the only permanent thing in life. When the leadership of the party couldn’t hold the ground and parallel lines kept emerging, the future became unclear. We had to look for a place where we could secure a better alternative,” he said.
Senator Agadaga commended Governor Douye Diri for what he described as a strategic and forward-looking decision to align with the APC, ensuring Bayelsa connects with the centre of power and benefits from national development opportunities.
“Remaining in a minority state and a minority party limits what we can get. Moving to the APC brings us closer to the centre, where we can attract more development for our people,” he added.
While addressing concerns about whether his move was unilateral, the senator said he consulted widely with political leaders, traditional rulers, youth groups, party executives, and former President Goodluck Jonathan before making his decision.
He noted that no individual or group expressed opposition to his decision.
“I consulted former presidents, governors, royal fathers, youth bodies, party executives—everyone gave advice, and I made the final call. Up till today, nobody has questioned my decision,” he said.
Senator Agadaga said the realignment has eased long-standing political tensions in Bayelsa, which for years had been sharply divided between the PDP and APC.
With major stakeholders now operating from the same political platform, he said the state is experiencing improved political harmony ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Before now, the two major parties were always confrontational. With our movement to the APC, the tension has reduced. The major actors now understand they are working together. Peace has returned to the state,” he said.
The senator admitted that frequent defections reflect the absence of strong ideological distinctions among political parties in Nigeria. He argued that Nigerians and their representatives tend to gravitate toward platforms that can deliver tangible benefits.
“We don’t have strong ideological divides. People look for where they can get dividends for their constituents. A time will come when we mature ideologically, but for now, politicians seek platforms that can better serve their people,” he explained.
He added that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s early developmental focus on Bayelsa further encouraged the decision to join the ruling party.
On security, particularly the spread of banditry across parts of the South-South, Senator Agadaga maintained that Bayelsa remains one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria. He credited the state government and collaborating security agencies for sustaining stability.
“Militancy has largely been put to rest. People move freely, even at night. If there are cases of banditry, they come from outside the state. The federal government and the state are working together to address such issues,” he said.
He stressed that Bayelsa’s stability is crucial to Nigeria’s broader economic and security interests, given its role as the birthplace of crude oil and home to several major oil installations.
“If there is no peace in Bayelsa, there will be no peace in Nigeria,” he noted.
