- Safiu Kehinde
The official acceptance of Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, into the All Progressive Congress (APC) following his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has attracted mammoth crowd of supporters as Vice President Kashim Shettima and other dignitaries arrive Asaba, the state’s capital.
NPO Reported that Oborevwori had last week spearheaded a mass defection from the PDP to the ruling party.
The move, which had further added to the woes of crisis-laden PDP, was welcomed by the APC with Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, celebrating the mass defection in a post on his X handle.
Following his defection, Oborevwori’s paid a visit to the ruling party’s National leaders in Abuja ahead of his formal acceptance into the party which is slated to hold today.
As captured in a video shared on X on Monday, massive crowd cladded in yellow uniform stormed the venue for the official defection of the state governor and other former PDP leaders in the state which included the governor’s predecessor, Ifeanyi Okowa.
Speaking at the event, Okowa claimed that their defection was for the best interest of the state.
He disclosed that the mass defection was borne out of the need for the state government to tap into the resources of the Federal Government in Abuja which he claimed Delta was a great contributor to.
“Today is a great day for us. When the news broke out that we have decided to change our path, people wondered why. But one thing is very important in the history of people.
“There is always a time to change their path for a common good and whatever decision we took was based on that common good. And indeed we changed our path the best interest of our state. As I did tell people that day, it was not about me. It was not about the governor, but for the fact that there is a need to connect to Abuja.
“That goodwill and resources that is in Abuja of which Delta state is a large contributor there was a need to connect to it.” Okowa said.
On his part, Oborevwori acknowledged the support of the state by President Bola Tinubu as part of the reason for his defection as he held that the state cannot work against him at the 2027 General election.
“Mr. President has supported us. He has shown us love. We cannot face him in 2027 and work against him. That love that he has shown to us in Delta state, we need to reciprocate it. We cannot do it by our old party. You have to be inside to do it and to do it well.” He said.
The Delta Governor further disclosed that Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda was in alignment with his MORE Agenda while noting that the mass movement witness in the state was collectively agreed on following series of consultations.
Oborevwori also described the movement as a statement to other opposition Governors to join the APC.
However, the governor took a quick dig at former lawmaker Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, and the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, who was present at the event, stressing that everybody with governorship ambition must queue.
Oborevwori claimed that governors are in charge of the state affairs under the APC unlike the PDP.
He assured the ruling party’s National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, that he will promote unity in Delta.
“I want to assure our National Chairman because there are some things people say in newspaper that there is confusion and faction.
“As I have come, there will be no more faction again because APC is not like PDP. The Governor takes charge and we are taking charge.
“Whether the faction of Ovivie Omo-Agege, whether the faction of Festus Keyamo, I don’t believe in any faction. Everybody must queue and we will unite this state.” The governor said.
In his address, Vice President Kashim Shettima labelled the mass defection from the PDP to APC as a political tsunami that has never happened in the history of Nigeria.
Shettima described the development as a testament of the APC’s unity and enduring promises despite heavy criticism.
“What testimony could be greater than the promise of this day? A political tsunami of unimaginable proportion that has never happened in the history of the South-South sub-region. And definitely in the history of this country, a tsunami of this proportion has never happened.
“All the members of the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly are in the APC- the Speaker and so many members of the National Assembly.
“The Governor and his cabinet and over 500 Councillors across the 35 local government areas of this great state. What testimony do you have greater than this?
“The true nature of a political party lies not in the enthusiasm of its members but in the conviction it inspires amongst those who stood apart from them.
“This indication is even more fundamental when opponents cross the line of difference to become part of the enduring family we have built.
“This historic day therefore is a celebration of the enduring promise of the APC.
“So many predictions have been written about us as though we an experiment doomed to fail. Some of these predictions were harboured by critics who have never managed even a community union and by individuals who allowed their personal opinions to override the collective choices of the party.
“The APC’s triumph over this promise of doom has never been cloaked in mystery. It is the simple truth that has played out in the last couple of days. That is why we are here, our unshaken believe in the power of collaboration.” Shettima said.
Also present at the event were the party’s National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje; Deputy, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; and his Ogun state counterpart, Dapo Abiodun, amongst others.