The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has resolved to initiate legal action against Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and other prominent members who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Following a six-hour closed-door meeting at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday, the PDP leadership directed its National Legal Adviser to begin legal proceedings aimed at reclaiming what it described as the party’s “stolen mandate” in Delta State.
In a communiqué released after the meeting, the party emphasized its commitment to holding the defectors accountable and maintaining its political foothold in the state.
To stabilise the party’s structure in Delta, the PDP appointed South-South Zonal Chairman, Emma Ogidi, to oversee affairs and lead a reorganisation effort. The party also dissolved existing structures in the state, citing mass defections as the reason.
Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, said: “We have instructed our National Legal Adviser to recover the mandate taken away from us. The party’s fortunes cannot be left in the hands of adversaries. Legal steps will be taken to retrieve those mandates.”
“We’ve dissolved all party structures in Delta as most members have defected. The zonal caretaker committee has now been tasked with overseeing the state’s affairs,” he added.
Beyond addressing the immediate wave of defections, the NWC also adopted key proposals from the PDP Governors’ Forum. The committee scheduled the party’s next National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting for May 28 and announced that the National Convention will take place from August 28 to 30, 2025.
Mass Defections Shake Delta PDP
On April 23, Governor Oborevwori, his deputy, Monday Onyeme, and a broad coalition of allies—including commissioners, local government chairmen, and grassroots party members—formally joined the APC.
They were welcomed by top APC leaders, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, and Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, who chairs the Progressive Governors’ Forum.
Also joining the APC was former Delta State Governor and PDP’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa. The high-profile defections have been widely described as a political upheaval, effectively ending the PDP’s longstanding dominance in the oil-rich state.
The APC lauded the move as a “movement,” portraying it as a significant realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.
+ There are no comments
Add yours