Delta state governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, other elected officials and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders from ward to state will be received into the All Progressives Congress (APC) today in Asaba, the Delta state capital.
Oborevwori, who dumped the leading opposition party last week, will get the broom, symbol of the ruling party, from Vice President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, at the Cenotaph, the venue of the historic rally.
Ganduje arrived in Asaba yesterday and held a series of meetings with defecting officials and Oborevwori.
The defection is a big event – described as a political Tsunami by observers – because Delta had been a PDP state since 1999.
Twenty-one APC governors and leaders are expected at the event.
As of 6pm yesterday, no fewer than 10 governors had arrived in the state capital.
These are: Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) chairman Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Bassey Otu (Cross River), Monday Okpebholo (Edo), Usman Ododo (Kogi), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), AbdulRaheem AbdulRasaq (Kwara), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), Dikko Raddah (Katsina) and Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe).
Former APC National Chairman, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, was among the national leaders who also arrived in Asaba last night.
The venue was looking resplendent, decorated with APC flags and different banners fluttering at strategic locations.
The unprecedented defection sent a shockwave across the country last week.
Apart from Oborevwori, other key PDP leaders who would be received into the APC are former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who was Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s running mate in the 2023 presidential poll; Deputy Governor Monday Onyeme, House of Assembly Speaker Emomotimi Guwor, Senator James Manager, commissioners and special advisers, state and federal lawmakers, chairmen of local government and councillors, and state local government and ward chairmen.
Many APC leaders, including Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo (SAN), Olorogun Otega Emerhor; former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe; Senator Joel Onowakpo-Thomas (Delta South); and his Delta Central counterpart, Sen. Ede Dafinone, applauded the defection.
Delta APC urged members to turn up en masse to receive the defectors with open arms.
It said the defection signals a new era of consolidation and growth for the chapter ahead of future elections.
It urged the party faithful to massively mobilise supporters for the ceremony.
The Publicity Secretary, Valentine Onojeghuo, in a statement, described the defection as a landmark event, which has shattered the political firmament of the state.
He said: “It marks a new dawn for the progressive family in Delta State and symbolises unity, inclusivity and our collective commitment to the growth and development of our dear Delta State under the leadership and guidance of our amiable governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, as he charts a new course for the destiny of the state through the M.O.R.E. agenda, in conjunction with the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
