BY FRED ODU
On Wednesday, 5th February, 2025, Distinguished Senator Ned Nwoko representing Delta North senatorial district in the National Assembly, officially announced the resignation of his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The Senator said, in a post on X after joining the Majority Wing of the Senate, that his decision to cross over to the All Progressives Congress (APC) was made after a deep reflection and wide consultations with key stakeholders, political associates and his constituents.
He said: ‘For years, I have remained committed to the ideals of good governance, effective representation, and the well-being of my people.
“However, it became increasingly clear that remaining in my former party will not allow me to fulfill the promises I made to my constituents.
“The challenges within the party, particularly in Delta State, have hindered progress, making it difficult to work effectively for the development of my people.
“Crossing over to the APC is a strategic step towards aligning with a platform that prioritizes national interest, economic growth, and people-centered policies.
Senator Nwoko expressed dissatisfaction with how he had been treated by the PDP, noting that all his efforts to improve the life of his constituents were undermined by internal party dynamics and a lack of support from party leadership.
He listed one of the key projects he had focused on as the Okpai Power Plant, a critical infrastructure project that would provide significant benefits to the people of Delta North, pointing out that in a bid to realize the objective, he had engaged relevant authorities and MDAs, including the Minister of Power and Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) with a view to looking into the power project in the zone and ensuring it was brought to fruition
Senator Nwoko added that he had even proposed bringing in investors to fast-track the project, was met with low support from the Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori.
Another key project he highlighted was the Ogwashi Uku Dam, which he attracted to the state during his tenure as a member of the House of Representatives, and which has been completed but cannot be fully operational without the state government’s involvement in water reticulation, a responsibility the Governor reportedly declined.
This treatment, according to Nwoko, left him with no choice but to seek a new platform where his ability to deliver on his promises would not be hindered.
Dwelling on Senator Nwoko’s assertion that PDP in Delta was fragmented, factionalized and lacking internal democracy which hindered progress and fulfilment of his promises to the people, for a political party that prides itself to have dominance of the state to have secured 360,000 votes in 21 LGAs, leaving the opposition with 240,000 votes in 4 LGAs, in the 2023 gubernatorial election is not a particularly good result to brag on.
It is also on record that PDP outrightly lost Delta Central and Delta South senatorial districts to the opposition APC and narrowly won in Delta North in the National Assembly election, while losing in 7 Constituencies in the State Assembly election, the highest loss in the history of the state.
With this poor showing, why would anyone cast aspersions on the Distinguished Senator for speaking the truth.
Senator Nwoko has also been castigated for his remarks on the strategic Okpai IPP project and the Ogwashi-Uku Dam, which he alleged that the State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, declined to fund to completion, when he (Nwoko) solicited his intervention, on the excuse that they are Federal projects.
If the state government could construct the Asaba-Ughelli dual carriage way, which was inherited by the present administration, Ned Nwoko’s request for the completion of the Okpai IPP project and the Ogwashi-Uku Dam was not out of place because Deltans would be the direct beneficiaries of the projects when completed
Let the truth be told, this is not the best of times for PDP in Delta State, ahead of the 2027 elections.
The party should go back to the drawing table, restrategise and seek reconciliation with critical stakeholders who have jumped ship, rather than engage in empty boasts that their exits are inconsequential to the party’s electoral fortunes.
