Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the caretaker chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State, George Turnah, has called on Governor Douye Diri to declare his support for President Bola Tinubu or risk the party working independently for the President’s re-election.

Speaking during the inauguration of the New Associates, a pro-Wike political group in Yenagoa at the weekend, Turnah said the PDP in Bayelsa would back Tinubu if Governor Diri failed to align with the President.

“I want to formally call on Governor Douye Diri to immediately announce his stand regarding the 2027 presidency so that Bayelsans can know where they stand,” Turnah said.

He noted that despite party differences, several South-South governors had supported Tinubu, emphasising that leadership transcends political platforms.

“If he is supporting President Tinubu, he should come out and tell us. But if he wants to align with other candidates, let him say so. Then we will know whether to follow him or not,” he said.

Turnah stressed that loyalty to the nation should override party loyalty once a president is elected. Citing former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike’s open support for Tinubu, he urged Bayelsans to rally behind the President’s leadership for the benefit of the region.

“Tinubu is not from my party, PDP, but once a leader is elected, he becomes the President of Nigeria, and we must support our leader,” he said.

According to Turnah, opposition politics should focus on ensuring government accountability and service delivery rather than plotting to unseat elected leaders prematurely.

“If a leader is performing, there should be no rush to remove him. When the time comes, PDP will make its decisions,” he added.

The rally was held to thank President Tinubu for appointing sons and daughters of the Niger Delta into his government, which further demonstrated the growing alignment between some factions of the PDP and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the next polls.