By Didimoko A. Didimoko, Asaba
A strong crisis is brewing in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State following last week’s defection of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and key members of the sinking Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including all chairmen of the 25 local government chapters, to the APC.
Naija Daily News’ investigation revealed that, contrary to the governor’s claim, many long-time members of the PDP are not happy with the decision and are now considering pulling out of what one considers “a strange alliance.”
Political analysts in the state said that how the matters involved are resolved would determine the future of the union and 2nd term ambition of the governor.
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori the latest APC governor
“It is surprising to us that the governor did not consider the feelings of the party’s founding members in the state. He went to the press to say that we have agreed to go wherever he goes. This is not true; some of us are considering our options,” one local leader of the PDP in Ughelli told our reporter.
It is not only members of the PDP who are unhappy with the state of the alliance between the former arch rivals, as it was gathered that the sharing of APC and political offices is already generating controversies.
In Warri South LGA, a former Minister of Defence (state), Dr Rowland Oritsejafor, was in the eye of the storm at the weekend, after he allegedly claimed that the PDP element in the union would take over the leadership of APC in the LGA.
He said the APC leadership welcome them to take leadership and they are ready to take the leadership of the party (APC) in Warri South.
Oritsejafor’s statement, made at the King George Hall in Warri on Friday, drew swift and scathing riposte from a long-time member of the APC, Mr Yemi Otuedon, who chastised the former minister for making an ‘unguided’ statement.
“Dr Oritsejafor is not yet a registered member of the APC; none of them has joined officially, yet they are telling us that they want to come and take leadership.”
Otuedon warned that those coming into the APC must come to build a stronger APC, noting that if they are “coming to destroy, they should have it in mind that they are coming to meet destroyers (in the party).”
Our reporter gathered that the incident in Warri South LGA mirrored a growing confusion in the APC over the defection of the must stronger and larger PDP in Delta State.
Another sore issue in the merger is the sharing of electoral positions and offices, amid rumours that the governor is set to reshuffle his cabinet to accommodate members of the APC.
It was gathered that the new cabinet will feature more of the former opposition APC, to the disadvantage of the PDP.
“We are waiting to see how this new arrangement will go because how the governor handles this issue will determine whether those of us who have been loyal to the PDP will remain with him or leave him to his new friends,” a source said.
