Umar Damagum, acting national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has described the defection of Sheriff Oborevwori, governor of Delta state, to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as unfortunate.
Acknowledging the decimation of the chapter, he said the PDP’s fate is in God’s hands.
Damagum said to fill the vacuum, the PDP leadership would immediately set up a caretaker committee to steer the affairs of the Delta chapter.
He spoke on the defection at the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja, shortly before the presentation of Certificate of Return to Jude Ezenwafor, the party’s candidate for the November 8 Anambra State governorship election.
Apart from Oborevwori, key PDP leaders who defected to APC in Delta include Deputy Governor Monday Onyeme, former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Senator James Manager, House of Assembly Speaker Emomotimi Guwor, other state and federal lawmakers, commissioners, local government chairmen and councillors.
Yesterday, APC National Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, who welcomed Oborevwori to APC, hinted that more PDP governors would defect to the ruling party.
Also, Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s inclusive and engaging style attracts more people to the APC.
But, former Senate President Bukola Saraki said there was no cause for alarm. He rallied members to reposition the PDP as a credible alternative platform.
Lamenting the defections, Damagum said: “It’s a decision takn by them, but the pains will remain with us, not because of anything, but because we have given Delta State all our support, from the emergence of the governor to the support for his predecessor, who also doubled as our Vice presidential candidate.
“I think we have done it all for them in Delta State, and we least expected this action from them.”
Damagum, who was accompanied by the acting National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo, the National Legal Adviser, Alhaji Kamaldeen Ajibade, and the National Organising Secretary, Captain Bature Umar (rtd), said APC has started deploying its tactics.
He said: “You may have your own tactics, but you cannot outplay God. We leave our faith in the hands of God, and we believe He will help us out of this great situation.”
Damagum urged party members to guard their loins against threats to the 2027 general elections.
He said: “I know that Nigerians are eager to hear from us about what happened to the PDP in Delta state.
“It is very sad and unfortunate because, to me, if there is any state that should think that way, it should not have been Delta, because the party has been very magnanimous to them.
“But I thank God that they have not said that the party did anything wrong to them other than good.
“This is a party that has seen more than that, but it is still standing, and I want to use this opportunity to say, we’ll take over our structures immediately by setting up a caretaker team. We are still taking stock, and we will do that immediately.”
Damagum added: “I want to remind us about what happened in 2023: the PDP can still make it.
“Peter Obi had no governor, but he muscled those votes that he muscled.
“So, this election in 2027 will not be about how many governors you have or how many leaders; it’s about Tinubu versus Nigerians and they will give him the result before noon on voting day because you can coerce, persuade, and intimidate our members to support you, but the ordinary man is feeling the pinch and the decision is his.
“I want to urge all of us to close ranks and rescue ourselves from this hardship that is inflicted on us by design, not by any coincidence.
“Policies are meant for people, not animals. But they made policies that are not yielding good results for the ordinary people.”
