Diri blasts group calling on Atiku to pick him as VP in 2027

Diri also described the suggestion as a “Greek gift” from political jobbers, which should be completely disregarded

By Kehinde Okeowo

Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri has denied he is planning to run as Vice President during the 2027 presidential election.

He made this known on Wednesday, after a group under the auspices of Diri Angels (DA), called on former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, to consider  him as his running mate in 2027.

DA, had in a statement signed on Tuesday by its Secretary, John Ondowari, said there was no doubt that Atiku would still emerge as the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2027, and the only way to realise his ambition to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is to adopt Governor Diri as his running mate in 2027.

But, Diri in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, swiftly denounced the group, describing them as a faceless group, which sarcastically named itself Diri Angels and one he believes is non-existent.

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He maintained that they intended to cause disaffection in some quarters and that the plot had failed.

Governor Diri went on to describe the suggestion as a “Greek gift” from political jobbers, which should be completely disregarded.

He said, “I am not swayed by such calls. In my political journey, I have always relied on God and not on political jobbers with devious intentions.

“The aim of those behind this act is to cause dis-affection but the plot is dead on arrival as I’m not interested in such a Greek gift.”

Diri further urged people of the state not to worry about the antics of such political buccaneers whose intention was to cause confusion in an attempt to distract him.

The governor also assured of his commitment to delivering the dividends of democracy to the people of Bayelsa State based on the mandate they first gave him in 2019 and re-affirmed on November 11, 2023.