In a significant political move, Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The announcement was made during Wednesday’s plenary, where Senate President Godswill Akpabio read Nwoko’s defection letter, in which the senator attributed his decision to deep divisions and factional disputes within the PDP at both state and national levels.
Nwoko explained that the internal challenges within the PDP had hindered efforts to promote unity and effectively represent the interests of the people of Delta State.
The APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, formally received Nwoko at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, expressing confidence that the senator’s entry would strengthen the APC’s chances in Delta State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Ganduje emphasized the party’s readiness to collaborate with Nwoko and other stakeholders to consolidate its political influence in the state.
“We are happy to receive you, and you are most welcome to our great and nationalistic party. We want a highly organised APC in Delta and we promise to work with you.
“We believe in national unity, integrity and providing for Nigerians, and we have internal democracy,” he said.
The APC national chairman, added that the country under President Bola Tinubu was working because his economy policies were beginning to yield positive results.
He assured the lawmaker of the cooperation of the APC leadership, saying a mega rally would be held in Delta to receive him and others formally at a later date.
“We know funding, organisation and commitment is not a problem, what we are looking forward to, is a highly organised party structure in Delta, a structure which compose of men and women, especially young men, who will go from house to house to show that APC dominates almost everywhere,” Mr Ganduje said.
Earlier, Mr Nwoko said that his mission was to join forces with other APC Delta stakeholders to ensure that the party took over the state in 2027.
The senator explained that he left the PDP for APC because he was not given the opportunity to serve the people of his constituent.
“I was elected to make a difference in Delta, but wasn’t given that opportunity. I believe in serving the people, but I was not getting that opportunity in PDP Delta.
“I know what our party will do to win elections in Delta, and I will join hands with others to do it to ensure that APC takes over the state in the next election.
“I am on a mission to ensure that APC takes over Delta in the next election. We have all that it will take to take over the state. We know what to do because we understand the politics of the state. All I ask, is your support,” he said.
On the crisis in Delta APC, he noted that he was a peace maker and would ensure peace returns to the party in the state.
Mr Nwoko was led to the APC national secretariat by Festus Kayemo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, who is an indigene of Delta State and other party stakeholders.