Bayelsa Govt Threatens Libel Suit Against Leadership, Punch Over Alleged False ReportThe Bayelsa State Government has threatened legal action against Leadership and Punch newspapers over reports it described as false and defamatory.The government said the reports wrongly claimed it issued a statement rejecting allegations of rising poverty made by a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.In a rejoinder signed by the Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Hon. Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, the government denied issuing any such statement.It said no press statement was issued, signed or distributed on Friday, July 3, 2026, responding to the PDP’s claims on Governor Douye Diri’s six-year administration.According to the government, there was no reason to respond to what it described as baseless allegations by the factional PDP.It challenged journalists and media organisations that published the report to produce the alleged statement, insisting that no such document exists.The government also dismissed a follow-up report alleging it blamed the Federal Government for poverty in Bayelsa.It maintained that Governor Douye Diri enjoys a cordial working relationship with the President and the Federal Government.The statement said the relationship has continued to deliver tangible benefits to Bayelsa and would not be undermined by false reports.It accused the factional PDP of seeking political relevance through misinformation and fabricating responses to statements that were never issued.The government reiterated that it would not be distracted by what it described as unfounded claims intended to mislead the public.It announced plans to formally demand a retraction from Leadership and Punch newspapers over the online publications.The government warned that failure by the newspapers to retract the reports could result in legal action for alleged libel and dissemination of false information.
