Speaker, 21 members, six Reps switch amid growing APC S’South consolidation
The entire Delta State House of Assembly and six of the state’s federal lawmakers went down the political oesophagus of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday, in yet another wave of defections threatening to wipe clean the platter of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The Speaker of the House, Emomotimi Guwor, and 21 other members officially defected in a significant political realignment that has effectively turned the Delta State House of Assembly into a one-party legislature, as the remaining seven members were already elected on the APC platform.
“With this action, the Delta State House of Assembly is now composed entirely of members from the All Progressives Congress. We thank our constituents for endorsing this progressive course of action,” Guwor announced.
During the resumption of plenary after the Easter break, Guwor explained that the decision resulted from extensive consultations with their constituents and political leaders across the state. He stated that the move complied with Section 109 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
He further noted that the mass defection, led by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, was undertaken in the “overall interest of Deltans and the state” and highlighted key consultations held on April 23, culminating in an official reception on April 28 at the Government House and the Cenotaph.
The Speaker informed the House that he had received 21 letters, including his own, formally notifying the Assembly of the change in party affiliation from PDP to APC.
The Majority Leader, Emeka Nwaobi, moved a motion to adopt the letters of party change, which was seconded by Hon. Ferguson Onwo, representing Isoko South II.
Also, six members of the House of Representatives from the state defected from the PDP to the APC.
Two Labour Party (LP) lawmakers switched allegiance to the PDP in a separate development.
The Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, read the notices of defection during plenary yesterday.
Among the defectors to the APC was Victor Nwokolo, representing Ika North East/Ika South federal constituency. Julius Pondi, who represents Burutu federal constituency, and Thomas Ereyitomi, representing Warri North/Warri South/Warri West, also moved from the PDP to the APC.
Nicholas Mutu, representing Bomadi/Patani, joined the ruling party, as did Ukodhiko Jonathan, representing Isoko North/Isoko South federal constituency. Ezechi Nnamdi, a first-term lawmaker representing Ndokwa/Ukwuani federal constituency, completed the list of Delta lawmakers leaving the PDP for the APC.
The two LP legislators, Obetta Chidi, representing Nsukka/Igbo-Eze South federal constituency in Enugu State, and Dennis Agbo, representing Igbo-Eze North/Udenu federal constituency, joined the PDP.
The defections came as President Bola Tinubu held a closed-door meeting with Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Oborevwori arrived at the State House at approximately 3:45 p.m. and engaged in what sources described as his first official interaction with the President following his recent defection to the ruling APC.
Villa officials noted that the meeting is widely viewed as a strategic move in the APC’s efforts to consolidate its influence in the South-South region, where it has been making significant inroads.
Observers within the APC suggest that more defections could follow, with Governors Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, Peter Mbah of Enugu, Abba Yusuf of Kano, and embattled Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara reportedly being wooed by the party.
Speculation is rife that the entire South-South zone could eventually align with the APC. Sources hinted that Fubara’s restoration to office following the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State might hinge on conditions, including his defection to the APC and a pledge not to seek a second term.
Labour Party will face wave of defections, says Ozigbo
Valentine Ozigbo, a former supporter of Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, has predicted a wave of defections from the party.
Speaking on Arise TV, Ozigbo, who recently joined the ruling APC, described the Labour Party as a “failing enterprise” and suggested it would soon be consigned to history. He claimed that some elected LP officials had confided in him about their plans to leave the party.
Ozigbo, the PDP candidate in the 2021 Anambra governorship election, said he joined the APC as a “catalyst of change” within the ruling party. He criticised the LP’s handling of internal challenges, particularly its leadership crisis, and faulted Peter Obi’s role in addressing these issues.
“I had a problem with Labour Party, and by extension, I would expect Peter Obi to take certain preemptive steps to deal with some of these issues in Labour Party. For reasons best known to him, he did not handle things the way I expected,” Ozigbo said. “I don’t want to be part of what I consider a failing enterprise. I had to move on. ”
Ozigbo denied leaving the LP due to personal grievances with Obi, instead attributing his defection to the party’s perceived lack of effective leadership.
“I would expect Labour Party to be better handled, better led, than what I’m seeing,” he said.
Despite his criticisms, Ozigbo maintained that his relationship with Obi remains civilised. He noted that both are now pursuing separate political objectives.
“Peter Obi is in Labour Party focusing on coalition talks and 2027. Valentine Ozigbo is in APC focusing on 2025. We have different objectives right now, and that’s why I had to take my own path,” he explained.
APC chairman, minister disagree over Kwankwaso’s potential defection
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has disagreed with the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Ata, over the acceptability of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), to the APC fold.
The key APC stakeholders in Kano state spoke to reporters yesterday after a closed-door meeting at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja.
The minister, a former Speaker of the Kano House of Assembly, described Kwankwaso as a “spent politician of no value in the Kano political terrain.” He claimed Kwankwaso “no longer commands followership in Kano state” and insisted that his entry into the APC would “tear the support base of the party apart rather than strengthen it.”
“As I said, Kwankwaso is no more a factor in Kano. He is moving to APC because he realised that he is going to die politically. That is why he is struggling to be accommodated in APC and that would bring a lot of crisis in APC,” he said.
The minister, who described Ganduje as “both his mentor and leader,” remarked that Ganduje would make the decision to accept Governor Abba Yusuf into the APC fold. The minister praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s performance and thanked him for appointing two ministers and several appointees from Kano state.
However, Ganduje, who succeeded Kwankwaso as Governor of Kano state between 2015 and 2023, noted that Kwankwaso would be welcome to the APC “in the spirit of brotherliness”.
“If the water is drying, the fish has to find its way to where there is water. So, that is what is happening. I will not say we are not ready to welcome him. When you see your son running to where he would get shelter, and you are a big brother in a big home, I think it is morally right to accommodate him. So, we cannot say we cannot accommodate him because a friend in need is a friend indeed. Somebody who has been abandoned, we should not allow him to wallow in darkness,” Ganduje said.
Atiku dismisses defection rumours, pushes for opposition coalition
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, has denied speculations about plans to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Speaking during a meeting with PDP women members of the Board of Trustees (BoT), led by Hajia Inna Ciroma, a former Minister of Women Affairs and ex-National Women Leader of the party, Atiku emphasised the need for a coalition to challenge the APC-led government in 2027.
Atiku described the coalition movement as a necessity, not just a political strategy, to rebuild the nation and provide an alternative to the ruling party. He cited historical precedents such as the NPN-NPP accord of the Second Republic, asserting that such alliances are workable and can yield positive results. He assured the women that the PDP’s identity would remain intact within the coalition framework.
Atiku informed the delegation about the status of the pan-Nigerian coalition he is building with leaders and stakeholders across political divides and regions. He described the movement as being powered by Nigerians determined to reclaim and rebuild the country.
Meanwhile, Atiku’s Media Office has responded to recent comments by Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Policy Communication. Bwala, a former spokesperson for Atiku’s 2023 presidential campaign who defected to the APC, had criticised Atiku’s continued participation in national politics and called for his retirement.
In a statement released yesterday, Atiku’s camp condemned Bwala’s remarks as “disparaging” and “hypocritical,” describing him as a “political turncoat.”
“It is both ironic and pathetic that Mr. Bwala – a political turncoat – now presumes to lecture a statesman of global standing on matters of legacy and destiny. His sanctimonious pontificating, laced with bitterness and duplicity, betrays a desperate effort to curry favour with a floundering administration,” the statement read.
Atiku’s team contends that the APC’s recent attacks reflect unease within the ruling party over the growing momentum of the opposition coalition spearheaded by Atiku and other progressive leaders.
