By Kolawole Ojebisi
An aide to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Mr Fred Oghenesivbe, has said there’s more to the defection of the Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District, Senator Ned Nwoko, than the stated reasons in his resignation letter.
Nwoko, who was a staunch member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for years, officially left the PDP on Friday.
In his letter, dated 30 January 2025, Nwoko, who was elected under the PDP in the 2023 general election, formally notified his ward in Aniocha North Local Government Area of his departure from the party.
He wrote, “I write to formally resign my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a party I have proudly served as a foundation member since 1999.
“My decision to resign is, first and foremost, due to the deep divisions and factionalisation within the party. This fragmentation has made it increasingly difficult to foster unity and advance the collective interests of our people. Just this week, on 29 January, top party functionaries degenerated to the lowest levels, physically fighting one another due to the stated factions, which have become irreconcilable.
“While I bid farewell to my membership in the PDP, I assure all party members and my constituents of my unwavering dedication to statesmanship, unity, and the advancement of Delta North.”
But reacting to Nwoko’s defection from the PDP, Oghenesivbe, who serves as the Director General of the Delta State Orientation and Communication Bureau, said the lawmaker made the move out of fear that he would not secure the PDP’s Senatorial ticket in 2027.
Oghenesivbe, made this claim on Sunday in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
He said, “Senator Ned Nwoko defected because he is scared of not getting the PDP ticket in 2027. We all knew he would leave the party sooner or later. It is about 2027 politics and securing a ticket to run.
“In Delta today, Senator Nwoko has been disconnected from the PDP structure and has not been working with party leaders in the state. As of today, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori is the leader of the PDP in the state, and Senator Nwoko has not been engaging well with the governor.
“So, Nwoko is somehow scared that he may not get the PDP ticket in 2027 because he has misrepresented our party at the national level.”
