2027: Nwoko’s move to APC sets stage for political showdown in Delta

MATTHEW OCHEI writes on the current political turmoil in Delta State, following the defection of Senator Ned Nwoko to the All Progressives Congress, which has become a nightmare for Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, and the Peoples Democratic Party

The recent defection of the senator representing Delta North senatorial district, Ned Nwoko, to the All Progressives Congress has thrown leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party in Delta State into a sleepless night.

Nwoko, elected in 2023 under the platform of the PDP, on Friday, January 30, 2025, officially dumped the party, following a resignation letter addressed to the Ward 8 chairman.

Speaking to The PUNCH, Nwoko stated that his decision to leave the PDP was influenced by the party’s opposition to the creation of Anioma State.

“I left because I want to get the support of the ruling party in the creation of Anioma State. The governor and former governor, who are the leaders of the PDP, are against the creation of Anioma State. I sought the support of the PDP national body but they have been embroiled in destructive fights and unable to show leadership.

“The governor made sure that I wasn’t allowed to function. He dismissed all the projects we had discussed during the campaigns, citing a lack of funds. Okpai power plant and Ogwashi Uku dam are examples.

“I wasn’t allowed to nominate any board members, nor commissioners nor local government chairmen. I had to join the ruling party to attract projects to my constituency. Time is running,” he said.

Nwoko revealed that despite his efforts to seek support from the PDP national leadership, members of the National Working Committee were embroiled in internal disputes and unable to provide the necessary leadership for the cause.

He further criticised the lack of funding for some projects he had promised his constituency during his electioneering. He added that to bring projects to his constituency, he had to join the ruling party, stressing that time was running out for him to fulfil his promises.

Nwoko’s defection to the APC was officially announced last week, after what he described as irreconcilable differences with Governor Oborevwori and other PDP leaders in Delta State.

Nwoko, who has been an advocate for the creation of Anioma State from Delta State, claimed that he lacked the support of the PDP leadership, particularly Oborevwori and former Governor Okowa, who is also from Delta North senatorial district.

Nwoko’s registration and consequent defection to APC did not go down well with the PDP leaders in the state.

Reacting to his departure, an aide to Governor Oborevwori, Fred Oghenesivbe, said Nwoko was leaving the PDP due to his fear of losing the party’s ticket in the upcoming 2027 election. Also, the Commissioner for Information, Charles Aniagwu, dismissed Nwoko’s defection as insignificant.

Speaking to journalists in Asaba on February 3, 2025, Aniagwu recalled that Nwoko had previously defected to the All Progressives Grand Alliance in 2003 and to the Democratic Peoples Party in 2011, though the PDP still won the election in both instances.

He said, “Now that he has left the PDP, we are not bothered because the party will win Delta North Senatorial District in 2027. Our concern now is to concentrate on governance. It’s not the time to play politics, but I know that when the time comes, the PDP will still win,” he said.

A chieftain of the APC and former governorship aspirant of the party, Prof Lowry Edozien, described Nwoko as an asset to the APC. He said, “I join the APC faithful in welcoming Senator Ned Nwoko to our fold. He has been in politics for a long time and is a sitting senator, an asset to the party. His reasons for defecting to the APC are articulated in his letter of resignation from the PDP and they reflect the shortcomings and failures of that fast-sinking boat.

“The APC has been growing organically in Delta State. From zero, we now have four members in the National Assembly. Senator Nwoko has joined a party with formidable structures across all local government areas in the state and is poised to deliver successes in the 2027 presidential, senatorial and gubernatorial elections.

“He now faces the challenge of ensuring cohesion in the party, being a unifying factor, and building on the successes achieved by the party in the last 10 years. In meeting this challenge, he will of necessity have to demonstrate statesmanship, sagacity and humility, and I trust that he will manifest these sublime attributes.”

Expectedly, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, read Nwoko’s defection letter to the APC during the plenary session on Wednesday, February 5, 2025.

The letter, titled, “Notice of departure from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress,” read, “I write to formally inform you and my distinguished colleagues of my decision to resign my membership from the PDP and consequently join the APC.

“This decision was not made lightly, but rather after deep reflection and extensive consultations with my constituents, political associates, and stakeholders across Delta North Senatorial District.”

He lamented that the PDP, which once stood as a formidable platform for democratic participation and national development, had unfortunately been engulfed in persistent crises, ranging from internal divisions to a lack of clear leadership and direction and then requested that his new party affiliation be reflected in the records of the Senate.

As soon as the National Chairman of the APC, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje welcomed Nwoko to the APC that same Wednesday, the leadership of the PDP in the state lost sleep.

There have been a series of meetings of the PDP in the state, especially in the Delta North senatorial district, with the party leaders at the local government and Ward 8 meeting possibly to rejig their strategies ahead of 2027.

It appears that Governor Oborevwori, who is currently losing political henchmen, mandated the Deputy Governor, Mr Monday Onyeme, who hails from Delta North, to strengthen the PDP in the area, notably a PDP stronghold over the years.

Acting on the governor’s directive, the deputy governor immediately convened a PDP stakeholders meeting at the Unity Hall of the Government House in Asaba on Thursday.

At the meeting, a vote of confidence was passed on Governor Oborevwori by the Delta North PDP leaders, including appointed and elected political officeholders, who resolved to retrieve the PDP mandate from Nwoko.

At the meeting presided over by Onyeme, the people of Delta North, otherwise known as Anioma, expressed satisfaction with the even distribution of projects by Governor Oborevwori’s administration across the state.

A motion was moved by the member representing Ika Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Victor Nwokolo, taking into cognisance the achievements of Governor Oborevwori, particularly for embarking on 500 road projects currently ongoing in various parts of the state, prompt payment of salaries, among others.

Addressing the gathering, Onyeme noted that Delta North remained the bride of the PDP, hence members should jealously guard the party and maintain its dominance. He urged them as leaders to be in touch with the grassroots and ensure that members are not dissuaded by the opposition parties that do not have anything to offer the people rather than feed them with lies.

“Delta North should remain PDP dominant senatorial district. We must consolidate our position as the main determinant for all elections in Delta State,” he said.

The stakeholders pledged that Delta North remains a stronghold of the PDP and resolved that legal processes should be initiated to retrieve the senatorial mandate of the PDP from Nwoko, having defected to the APC.

As if the meetings held at the party office, Government House and leaders’ houses were not enough, another meeting was held on Friday, February 7, 2025, at Ward 8, Nwoko’s ward, to reaffirm the stakeholders’ support for the governor.

Speaking at the Ward 8 meeting, the Commissioner for Special Duties (Government House) and Nwoko’s kinsman, Dr Ifeanyi Osuoza, said the governor has the best interests of Ward 8 and other parts of the state at heart.

Osuoza who is the immediate-past Commissioner for Information, urged the people to stand resolute for the PDP as he assured them that they would gain the dividends of democracy through necessary empowerment and social development initiatives.

“On the defection of Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District, who hails from Idumuje Ward 8, the ward, which is one of the largest by voting strength in Aniocha North, remains the traditional home of the PDP, beginning from the 1990s and it would keep standing as a stronghold of PDP,” he said.

The development has shown that some party members are PDP in the morning, APC in the afternoon, and LP at night. As the 2027 political calendar draws closer, a lot of political intrigues are unfolding in the state.

It is also getting clearer that the immediate-past governor, Okowa, is planning a return to the Senate, a position he occupied between 2011 and 2015 before he became governor. Alternatively, the former governor may be preparing one of his loyalists to vie for the position.

Political pundits are of the opinion that Governor Oborevwori is playing the script written by his political leader (Okowa), thus losing PDP heavyweights to the APC, as chieftains, former and present lawmakers, former commissioners, former council chairmen and thousands of their supporters had, in the last two months, joined the APC while some of the governor’s henchmen are also on the verge of dumping the PDP.

A political analyst, Mr Peter Legacy, noted that Nwoko’s defection has indeed created attention that cannot be denied. He said, “Ned Nwoko is a high-flying celebrity politician and a celebrated philanthropist. His defection has created attention that cannot be denied. Though it’s a long time coming people generally would not say it took them by surprise.

“I can distinctly say that I don’t think the party treated him with sufficient respect, considering his reactions, which could be seen as going against his party.

“In any case, Senator Nwoko has moved on to the APC. It is up to the PDP to show resourcefulness and positive efforts. I think their righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees for them to be able to outflank the raging political warfare ahead.”

Legacy said he believed that the community stands to gain, stressing that peace among politicians translates to docility in performance, adding, however, that in wartime, they have no option but to prove a point to the people. “Let the war rage on, it pays the community,” he said.

The 2027 election in the state, particularly in Delta North, promises to be intriguing, with a likely contest between Nwoko and Okowa. Deltans can anticipate an engaging political showdown among these key players.