The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has vowed to take legal action to recover its political mandates in Delta State following the defection of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The party declared that it would not sit idly while its electoral victories are allegedly hijacked through political defections, which it described as unconstitutional under Nigeria’s electoral framework.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, the Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Ambassador Umar Damagum, disclosed that the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) has instructed the National Legal Adviser to commence legal proceedings aimed at retrieving the governorship seat and other offices held by elected officials who recently defected from the PDP to the APC. The directive also affects lawmakers and political officeholders who left the party alongside Governor Oborevwori.
Citing provisions of the Electoral Act, Damagum emphasized that any elected public official who defects from the party under which they were elected automatically forfeits their mandate. He described the defection as a betrayal of trust and a violation of the spirit of democratic representation.
In light of the political developments in Delta State, the PDP has empowered the Emmanuel Ogidi-led South-South Zonal Caretaker Committee to immediately take charge of party affairs in the state. This interim measure, according to Damagum, will remain in place until a new state caretaker committee is constituted and approved by the NWC.
Damagum also used the occasion to address broader internal matters within the party, revealing that zonal congresses have been approved for the South-West, South-East, and North-East regions, while a caretaker committee has also been constituted for the North Central zone. He noted that these decisions followed key recommendations adopted by the party’s governors during their recent meeting in Ibadan.
He announced that the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting has been scheduled for May 27, with the next national convention to hold from August 28 to 30, pending NEC ratification. The convention, he said, will mark the beginning of a new era of leadership within the party.
On the spate of defections, Damagum urged party loyalists to remain calm and resolute, saying the APC’s tactics of coercion and intimidation will not break the spirit of the PDP. He expressed confidence that the Nigerian electorate would respond at the right time, pointing to the resilience of the PDP in the face of past political betrayals.
“They may push our members to defect, but Nigerians know the truth and will make their voices heard when the time comes,” he stated.
Damagum also dismissed rumors suggesting internal crises within the PDP’s National Working Committee. He maintained that the party is united and focused, describing the reports of crisis as mere excuses being used by some individuals to justify their departure from the party.
“There is no crisis in the NWC. Anyone claiming otherwise is simply looking for a reason to validate their defection. The PDP remains strong and will not collapse under pressure,” he asserted.
He reaffirmed that preparations for the national convention were in full swing and described the current challenges facing the party as minor compared to past ordeals the PDP has overcome.
In a related development, the chairman of the South-South Zonal Caretaker Committee, Emmanuel Ogidi, assured that the committee was fully prepared to carry out its assignment in Delta. He explained that the committee’s primary responsibility would be to assess the current situation, engage with party members, and rebuild confidence among the party’s faithful in the state.
Ogidi stressed that the committee would also recommend credible individuals to serve in the proposed Delta State Caretaker Committee, which would eventually be ratified by the National Working Committee.
In clarifying the leadership structure in other South-South states, Ogidi reaffirmed that the PDP’s structure in Bayelsa remains under the leadership of Solomon Agwanana’s State Working Committee. He added that in Edo State, Tony Aziegbemi continues in his role as state chairman, putting to rest any speculation regarding leadership changes in those states.
As the PDP moves into a legal and political battle to reclaim what it calls stolen mandates, the coming weeks are expected to test the party’s organizational strength and legal strategy as it seeks to reassert its influence in Delta State and beyond.
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