The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has directed its National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), to initiate immediate legal proceedings against Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, and the entire PDP structure in Delta State over their reported defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
This decision followed an emergency meeting of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) held at the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja. Addressing journalists shortly after the meeting, Acting National Chairman of the party, Ambassador Umar Damagum, announced the party’s resolve to challenge the move in court, describing it as a betrayal of the party’s mandate and an affront to democratic norms.
“We have reviewed the unfortunate political development in Delta State, and we are deeply concerned by the illegal defection of elected officials who rode on the back of the PDP to power, only to abandon the platform midstream,” Damagum stated.
According to him, the party is not only committed to reclaiming its mandate but also determined to set a precedent that discourages political cross-carpeting without consequences.
“The PDP has instructed our Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), to file the necessary legal action to recover what belongs to the party and to ensure that the sanctity of the ballot is upheld,” he added.
Damagum emphasized that the mandate given to the officials in question was secured under the PDP banner and as such, any shift in political allegiance without a fresh mandate from the electorate amounts to electoral fraud and a violation of Nigeria’s constitutional order.
The alleged defection of Governor Oborevwori and former Governor Okowa to the APC has sparked outrage within PDP ranks, raising questions about internal loyalty and the future of the party in the South-South region, which has long been a PDP stronghold.