The party has instructed its national legal adviser to initiate proceedings to reclaim its mandate, which also includes lawmakers and other elected officials who followed Oborevwori to the ruling party.
By Titilope Adako
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken legal steps to remove Governor Sheriff Oborevwori from office following his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The party has instructed its national legal adviser to initiate proceedings to reclaim its mandate, which also includes lawmakers and other elected officials who followed Oborevwori to the ruling party.
In a press briefing after a National Working Committee (NWC) meeting, PDP acting national chairman, Umar Damagum, revealed that the party’s South-South zonal caretaker committee, led by Emmanuel Ogidi, would take charge of the party’s structures in Delta, pending the constitution of a new state caretaker committee.
Governor Oborevwori, former vice-presidential candidate Ifeanyi Okowa, and other prominent PDP figures in Delta announced their defection to the APC on April 25.
According to Damagum, under the Electoral Act, any elected official who defects must relinquish their position.
He assured that a caretaker committee would be established soon to oversee Delta’s affairs. “We have instructed the zonal caretaker committee to take charge of Delta after dissolving all existing structures, as most of their members have defected, A caretaker committee will be constituted shortly,” Damagum stated.
Additionally, Damagum outlined plans for upcoming zonal congresses in the South-West, North-East, and South-East regions, as well as the formation of a caretaker committee for the North Central zone.
The NWC also approved a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting for May 27, with the national convention scheduled for August 28-30, pending NEC approval.
Despite the wave of defections, Damagum urged party members to stay optimistic, asserting that the PDP remains strong and will overcome the current challenges.
“Yes, they (APC) may coerce or intimidate our members into defecting, but we are confident the Nigerian people will respond appropriately when the time comes. It has happened before, and it will happen again,” he said.
He also dismissed claims of internal crisis within the NWC, stating, “There is no crisis. If someone wants an excuse to justify their betrayal, they might claim there is a crisis. But the PDP remains intact and will continue to thrive.”
He concluded, “We may face challenges, but we’ve always resolved them internally. No amount of intimidation or mischief can bring this party down. The PDP has survived many attempts in the past—this one is child’s play.”
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