The Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Umar Damagum, has expressed deep disappointment over the defection of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Describing the move as unexpected, Damagum said it was a painful betrayal, especially given the level of support the PDP had extended to Delta State over the years.
In a major political shake-up, Oborevwori, along with several key PDP stakeholders in Delta, formally exited the party on Wednesday to align with the ruling APC.
Speaking during the presentation of a Certificate of Return to the PDP’s Anambra governorship candidate, Chief Ezenwafor Jude, Damagum emphasized that the party had done nothing but good for Delta State.
“It’s very sad and unfortunate because to me, if there’s any state that should think that way, not Delta, because the party is very magnanimous.”
“I thank God that in their message, they didn’t say that the party did anything wrong to them other than good,” he said.
“It’s a decision taken by them, but the pains will be in us not because of anything, but because we have given Delta State all our support, from the emergence of the governor to his predecessor, who also doubled as our vice presidential candidate.
“I think we’ve done it all for them in Delta State. We least expected this action from them. All the same, this is a party that have seen more than that, but it’s still standing.”
Looking ahead to 2027, Damagum argued that the next general election would not be about party structures or leadership numbers but a referendum on the APC’s governance and its impact on everyday Nigerians.
“This election in 2027 is not about how many governors you have or how many leaders. It’s about Tinubu and Nigerians.
“The ordinary man is feeling the pain, and the decision is his. So I want to use this opportunity to tell Nigerians that it is their election. It is APC versus Nigerians.
“It’s not APC versus any governor or senator or anything but APC versus Nigerians. So I want to urge all of us to close ranks and rescue ourself from this hardship that is inflicted on us by design, not any coincidence.”
Damagum also stated that the PDP would immediately reorganize its Delta State structures through the formation of a caretaker committee to regain control.
“We are still taking stock, and we will do that immediately. I also want to enjoin our members, both in Delta and the country in general, I want to remind us of what happened in 2023. The PDP can still make it,” he said.
Drawing inspiration from the 2023 elections, Damagum noted that Labour Party’s Peter Obi made significant electoral gains despite not having served as a governor.
“The PDP can still make it,” he reiterated, suggesting that the people’s will could once again shape Nigeria’s future regardless of political betrayals.
