Defect to APC and Your Corruption is Forgiven and Forgotten 

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Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, his predecessor and running mate to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 general elections, Ifeanyi Okowa and the entire leadership and membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The defection was formally announced in Asaba, the state capital, by former Senator James Manager and the Commissioner for Information, Charles Aniagwu, following a series of meetings of PDP leaders and stakeholders at the Government House that lasted over six hours.

“All PDP members in the state, including the governor, former Governor Okowa, the Speaker, the state party chairman, all the local government chairmen and others, have agreed to move to the APC,” Manager said.

Addressing the press earlier, Aniagwu confirmed the governor’s defection and said the decision was taken unanimously by the PDP leadership and stakeholders in Delta.

“There is a need for us to adjust our drinking patterns. And in adjusting that drinking pattern, we needed to make a decision that would further help to cement the development in our state,” Aniagwu said.

“In taking that decision, we concluded that leaving the PDP was very necessary for us to be able to collaborate and build a state that every Deltan will be proud of. We believe that what is happening, and the state of the PDP, is akin to that palm wine whose taste has changed — and there was a need for us to change the drinking party, ” he added

However, Okowa has been criticised by Nigerians on social media following his defection.

The backlash erupted shortly after Okowa posted a video of his speech at the official defection ceremony on Facebook, where he other PDP stalwarts formally switched allegiance to the ruling party in Asaba.

Okowa, who served as the PDP’s vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections alongside Atiku Abubakar, was accused of betraying his former running mate and the PDP to shield himself from an impending Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigation into allegations of N1.3 trillion fraud during his tenure as governor.

Social media users flooded his Facebook page with unpleasant comments labelling his defection a self-serving move driven by fear rather than the “collective interest” he claimed motivated the decision.

Meanwhile, Governor Umo Eno is also reportedly planning to defect from the PDP to the ruling APC, according to reliable sources within his administration.

The move, according to reports, aims to shield his predecessor, Udom Emmanuel, from potential prosecution by EFCC.

Eno has allegedly consulted PDP stakeholders on his decision to switch parties.

Eno’s planned defection, slated for May 13, is a strategic political move to protect his predecessor, who is under investigation by the EFCC over embezzlement of over ₦700 billion in state funds during his tenure as governor.

“The case is so bad that Udom cannot escape. So, without an election, the APC has claimed Akwa Ibom because of the sin of one. It’s so sad that the years of locusts perpetrated by Udom is making his stooge take this decision,” a source told West Africa Weekly.

The EFCC earlier arrested Emmanuel following a petition by the civil society organisation Network Against Corruption and Trafficking (NACAT), which accused the ex-governor of money laundering, diversion of public funds, and misappropriation of state resources.

According to the petition, Udom received N3 trillion from the Federation Account over eight years but left behind a debt profile of N500 billion with unpaid ongoing projects worth N300 billion and cannot account for N700 billion.

They also revealed that N31 billion was withdrawn in cash from an account titled “Office of the Governor” between 2019 and 2023.

These defections and the intentions behind them reveal the rot and level of corruption in the ruling APC. Being an APC member automatically absolves any individual of any corruption charges, throwing accountability to the wind. 

Nigerians must reject this new trend as every leader must be held accountable for their time in office regardless of party affiliations. 

Author: Joy Gofwen

Lagos, Bureau Chief,

Nigeria

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