Executive Director of Social and Human Capital Development at the South-South Development Commission, Preye Aganaba, has said Bayelsa State will attract more federal projects if Governor Douye Diri joins the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Aganaba made the remark while speaking on Rhythm 94.7 FM in Yenagoa on Monday, following Diri’s reported resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The development has fuelled speculation about his possible defection to the APC, alongside some of his political allies.

Last week, Senator Benson Konbowei, who represents Bayelsa Central and is a close ally of Diri, resigned from the PDP and formally joined the APC.

His resignation was conveyed in a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and read during Thursday’s plenary session.

Reacting to the shifting political alignments, Aganaba, a founding chieftain of the APC in Bayelsa, said the party was ready to receive Diri and work with him to advance President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.

“The kind of impactful leadership and bold reforms led by President Bola Tinubu have unlocked enormous resources for governors to carry out development in their various states,” he said.

He said if Diri were to join the APC, there would be nothing wrong, and that it would only be the normal thing to do.

“It is only natural for those of them who are people-oriented to align with the president”, he said

Aganaba added that the national leadership of the APC would determine the timeline and process for Diri’s formal entry into the party, while the state chapter would act accordingly.

He expressed optimism that greater collaboration between political leaders at the state and federal levels would help attract more federal projects to Bayelsa.

The APC chieftain also dismissed speculation that former president Goodluck Jonathan was planning to contest the 2027 elections, describing him instead as a respected statesman whose experience should guide younger leaders.