I’m Not Disturbed by Gale of Defections in PDP, Ex-Edo gov, Lucky Igbinedion, Asserts

•CP-PDP alleges plot by APC to Pillage Delta, impose one-party rule on Nigeria

•Intractable crisis in PDP aided Oborevwori, Okowa, Others’ defection, state govt insists

 Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

A former governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, yesterday, said he was not perturbed by the gale of defections that has hit the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),because defection has been characteristic of the average Nigerian politician.

This was as the Conference of Professionals in the Peoples Democratic Party (CP-PDP) has alerted the people of Delta State of a plot by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to use coerced defection of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to their party as a gateway for total control of the treasury and resources of the state.

But the Delta State Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, has attributed the mass movement to the APC to the persistent internal crisis within the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC).

Igbinedion, who said he foresaw the defectors coming back to the party or another party that would hold sway in the nearest future, spoke to journalists shortly after leading leaders of the party and others to the residence of former Chief Whip of the Senate, Sir Rowland Owie on a condolence visit over the death of his wife, Lady Helen Owie.

On his entourage were the state chairman of the party, Dr.Tony Aziegbemi; former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi; former Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Stephen Idehenre and others.

He said, “I don’t worry so much (about the defections) because I know Nigerian politicians, they swing from one side to the other. If anything happens tomorrow, those people that defected, you will see them coming back to the PDP.

“There was a time when the PDP had the highest number of governors in this country and we saw PDP both in the south and in the north and now it is APC’s turn, they will be deflated sooner or later and whether it is going to be PDP or a new party, only God knows.”

On the move for a coalition to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027, the former governor said, “I have always been in the PDP since 1998 and I am not contemplating leaving PDP. But one thing for sure is that I believe in equity and that equity means that it is the turn of a southerner to be president.

“So, if any other southerner comes tomorrow from the PDP of course I will support the southerner. After that, in the year, 2031, it will now be the turn of the north. I will also look at the possible candidate for that job.”

Igbinedion said they were in Owie’s house to commiserate with him being an ally.

“We have known for many decades and somebody who is full of life and, I also admire him a lot because to be married for fifty years is not a joke and to lose a life partner can be very saddening and we came to condole and wish him continuous God’s strength, God knows best and we came to give the necessary support to carry on without her.”

Speaking on behalf of the delegation earlier, Aziegbemi told Owie that despite the pain of death, his wife living to be 71 years was a consolation since the bible records 70 as an acceptable time to die.

Owie, on his part, said, “She came to my life 51 years ago, when a man does not have a good home, he is not happy going home. She came into my life and from going home at 4 am, it went into going home at 2 am then at 10 pm and at a point, you see no need not to be at home.”

CP-PDP Alleges APC’s Plot to Pillage Delta

The Conference of Professionals in the Peoples Democratic Party (CP-PDP) has alerted the people of Delta State of a plot by the APC to use coerced defection of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori as a gateway for total control of the treasury and resources of the state.

CP-PDP also alerted that this was part of the move by the APC to further impoverish and subjugate Nigerians, decimate the opposition, muffle dissenting voice, undermine the democratic sovereignty of the people and pave the way for the imposition of a totalitarian and oppressive one-party regime in Nigeria.

According to a statement by the chairman of the PDP Professionals, Obinna Nwachukwu, ‘’Information at the disposal of the Conference is to the effect that APC leaders blackmailed Governor Oborevwori to defect to the APC as a condition to end the unwarranted harassment of former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa with the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“It is also alleged that the APC leaders have upscaled their demand to include surrendering of significant control of Delta state oil wells to APC Cabal in Abuja.

‘’There are also allegations of plots by the APC to ensure total control of the Delta state resources, by demanding that Governor Oborevwori should rejig his government and hand over sensitive positions to the Cabal to fill with core APC members.

“This is in addition to alleged insistence by the APC Cabal to take complete control of the state by implementing what it called the ‘Lagos Option’, where defectors are not guaranteed tickets for the 2027 general election.”

Intractable PDP Crisis Aided Oborevwori, Okowa, Others’ Defection, Delta Insists

Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information in Delta State, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, has attributed the mass movement of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and all members of the PDP in the state to the APC to the persistent internal crisis within the PDP National Working Committee (NWC).

Speaking on Day Break on ARISE NEWS Channel,yesterday, Aniagwu lamented that unresolved leadership tussles, lack of cohesion, and a plethora of litigations within the PDP significantly contributed to the migration of Deltans to the ruling APC.

He stressed that the PDP, as currently constituted, could no longer meet the aspirations of the people of Delta State due to the ongoing turmoil within the party.

“Politics is about contesting elections, winning, and then governing the people. If you’re in a situation where it’s difficult to achieve those goals and continue the developmental trajectory, then it’s important to make a decision.

“Secondly, even while we were still in the PDP, the president showed us genuine, organic love. So moving toward such a person isn’t a difficult choice. We understand the concerns and sentiments across the country, but we’ve explained our reasons to our people and that is what makes democracy robust,” Aniagwu stated.

The commissioner emphasised that the movement to the APC was not a defection but a deliberate, strategic transition.