Defection: Delta PDP Stakeholders move to retrieve senatorial mandate from Ned Nwoko

People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) stakeholders in the Delta North Senatorial Zone are making moves to ensure the zone remains a stronghold of the party.

One of such moves is to initiate legal processes to retrieve the senatorial mandate of the party from Ned Nwoko, the senator representing the district in the National Assembly, who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

At a meeting held at the Unity Hall of Delta Government House, Asaba, Thursday, the stakeholders resolved to reclaim the senatorial mandate from Nwoko to ensure the party retains dominance in the district.

Monday Onyeme, Delta State Deputy Governor presided over the meeting attended by elected and appointed officials, party chieftains and grassroots mobilizers, where deliberations were made on the implications of Nwoko’s defection.

The stakeholders maintained that Delta North remains a PDP stronghold and should not allow its senatorial representation to be lost to the opposition.

The motion for legal action was proposed and endorsed by key stakeholders, who emphasized that the mandate given to Senator Nwoko by PDP members must be protected.

PDP remains the dominant political force in the state, said the leaders as they called on members to remain steadfast.

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Also at the meeting, the stakeholders reaffirmed confidence in Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration, saying he has performed well particularly on infrastructure, salary payment, and projects execution, just as they commended his leadership style and commitment to even development across the state.

The deputy governor urged all PDP office holders to remain engaged with the grassroots and ensure that the party’s influence is not eroded by the opposition even as he called on the elected officers, including local council chairmen, to actively support the Oborevwori administration’s MORE Agenda by implementing community-focused projects.

It would be recalled that Ned Nwoko while addressing Anioma people, claimed that his reasons for leaving PDP to APC was a result of injustice metted to the people of Anioma by the Sheriff-Oborevwori-led administration in the state.

He mentioned how he had fought for some projects but that the state government had refused to act. Instead, a few individuals have hijacked the system, using power to serve themselves while the rest of us are treated as mere spectators in our own state, the senator alleged.

Anioma people are all Deltans under the Delta North Senatorial Zone.

I speak to you today as your representative, your advocate, and your voice, a voice that will never be silenced in the face of injustice, said Nwoko to his constituents.

“Anioma has waited long enough. We have contributed immensely to Delta State and Nigeria, yet when it is time for development, all we receive are empty promises and excuses.

“For too long, our demands for basic necessities have been ignored:

“The stepping down of power from Okpai, which would light up our towns, drive commerce, and create jobs, yet remains a distant dream.

“Water from the Ogwashi-Uku Dam, a resource that should be serving our people but lies wasted while our communities struggle.

“Good roads that would connect our people, boost agriculture, and open up trade, yet key projects like the Asaba-Ugbolu-Illah Road, Kwale-Ogume-Amai-Obiaruku Road, and Idumuje-Ugboko Road remain neglected.

“A Delta State Airline, which could transform our economy and attract investment, remains just a proposal because of the lack of vision and political will.

“A Delta State Rail Network, a bold solution to ease transportation and enhance commerce, has been left on paper while other states move forward.

“I have fought tirelessly for these projects, but the state government has refused to act. Instead, a few individuals have hijacked the system, using power to serve themselves while the rest of us are treated as mere spectators in our own state.

“The Governor personally asked me to submit names for commissioners—I did. None were appointed. I made recommendations for chairmen of boards and parastatals—not one was considered.

I advocated for fair representation at the local government level—but political manipulation shut our people out. I can no longer be part of this failed system.

I leave behind a Governor who has chosen to govern with excuses instead of action, a government that has failed to recognize the value of Anioma’s contributions. But I do not leave behind my people. I carry you with me into a new era of possibilities, said Nwoko.