On Wednesday, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State officially declared his departure from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to align himself with the governing All Progressives Congress (APC).
The declaration, marking an end to the PDP’s continuous 26-year control over Delta State, came during a gathering with leaders and stakeholders of the party within the state on Wednesday at Government House in Asaba.
At the gathering, the governor instructed all PDP supporters within the state to switch their allegiance to the APC. He mentioned that the local PDP members will be welcomed at a rally led by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Cenotaph in Asaba next Monday.
Present at the meeting were the State Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme; the recent ex-Governor of the state and erstwhile Vice-Presidential nominee for the party, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa; representatives from the National Assembly; the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor; assembly members; commissioners; chairpersons of local government councils; high-ranking governmental personnel; and key figures within the party.
Associated Osun Representative, Wole Oke, has left the PDP Governor Oborewvori, with members of the PDP faction choosing to join APC in Delta Edo. Additionally, Senator Imasuen from LP is also planning to defect to the APC party.
At the conclusion of the meeting, when briefing journalists, Rural Roads State Commissioner and Public Information Officer, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, stated that the decision was made due to recent unfavorable events within the national branch of their political party.
For quite some time, the media, especially social media platforms, have been inundated with speculations about the political choices we will make in Delta.
During that time, the governor along with key figures from the party have been actively engaged in essential discussions, which have culminated in today’s gathering where PDP leadership will provide guidance on the crucial actions that must be undertaken.
It is often remarked that when the flavor of the palm wine alters, so too does the manner of consumption; similarly, the heads of the party agreed unanimously that the political climate had shifted.
There was a necessity for transformation that could strengthen progress within our state, fostering the bonds of affection that have always been present here. Additionally, this shift aimed at enhancing the safety and well-being of our citizens.
As you understand, all politics essentially stem from local matters. Therefore, when making this choice, we inevitably realized that leaving the PDP was crucial for us to join forces with our community members and strengthen the relationships we’ve maintained.
We think that the situation within the PDP at the national level is similar to that of palm wine, which has altered in flavor, hence the reason for taking this decision.
Thanks to divine providence, come next Monday, we will boldly declare our transition to the APC.
Additionally, Senator James Manager, who was the founding chairman of the PDP in the state, mentioned that this choice was made after consultations with numerous stakeholders throughout the region.
You’ve now learned about certain events taking place within the PDP Delta State. Various discussions have been underway, and the culmination of these talks is evident here today.
We have had discussions and disagreements but ultimately reached a unanimous agreement. As the founding state chairman of the PDP, I represent a riverine constituency. However, one should not remain aboard a ship that is already tilting due to my background.
When examining things as they stand, we’ve reached an unavoidable conclusion to pursue alternative actions. This is a shared decision due to numerous factors.
“A few days back, the PDP Governors’ Forum met in Ibadan and reached a decision. Most of the governors attended, and they agreed that they will not form an alliance with any other political party.”
But despite the PDP’s current disadvantage with around 11 governors, how can they compete against an incumbent president? Do you believe victory is possible? This specific decision dampened the enthusiasm of numerous PDP members.
“We lost the election in 2015 as a result of a merger which even included splinter groups from the PDP. There are also other reasons.
“Today, Sen. Anyanwu is the national secretary of the party; tomorrow, it is another person. The party must be positioned to go into an election to win. So you see that it is becoming very funny. The PDP is truly in trouble.
“If you look well, the current PDP state chairman was in the meeting, the governor was there, the deputy governor, the immediate past governor, and the speaker. All of these persons were in the meeting. National Assembly members and even the House of Assembly members. The ‘who is who’ in Delta State were in the meeting to make this decision,” he said.
With Delta now an APC state, the South-South’s political map tightens as the new alignment enhances President Bola Tinubu’s re-election calculus by adding roughly 1.4 million Delta votes to the ruling party.
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