February 09, (THEWILL) – Senator Ned Nwoko’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, is having the additional impact of bringing the prolonged leadership crisis in Delta State chapter of the APC to an end.
Like clockwork, Senator Nwoko who formally announced his defection in a letter to his colleagues through the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, last Wednesday, followed it up with a visit to the National Chairman of the APC and members of the party’s National Working Committee, NCW, in Abuja.
Senator Nwoko who said that his decision to defect “was not made lightly, but after deep reflection and extensive consultations with my constituents, political associates and stakeholders across the Delta North Senatorial District,” following, “unresolved conflicts” with the PDP, which “have weakened its ability to function as an effective opposition, thereby threatening the very fabric of our democracy,” paid a visit to the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje in company with a delegation led by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Management, Festus Keyamo.
Other members on the delegation last Wednesday were Senator Joel Onowakpo-Thomas and Senator Ede Dafinone, Nwoko’s colleagues from Delta South and Central Senatorial Districts, respectively.
Instructively, the brief presentation ceremony which was officiated by Keyamo was attended by all members of the National Working committee, NWC, as well as Stella Okotete, former National Women’s Leader of the party and the Delta North Senatorial Chairman of APC.
According to Hon. Keyamo, “This development marks a new chapter in Senator Nwoko’s political journey and his membership in the APC is expected to significantly impact the party’s policies and direction in the coming years. The coming of Senator Ned Nwoko into the party would be of great advantage to the party in future elections.”
The high point of that visit was the photo session, which made headlines the next day. The pictures showed Keyamo and National Chairman, Ganduje, raising the hands of Senator Nwoko to the cheers and applause of all party officials and stakeholders from Delta State Chapter of the party.
A dependable party source told this newspaper that the session was a vital optics to the recent position of the reconciliation committee on the ongoing supremacy battle in the state chapter between Keyamo and the former Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo Agege, who was also the governorship candidate of the party in the 2023 general election.
In fact, Ganduje’s statement while welcoming Senator Nwoko to the party to the effect that with all the three Delta senators on their side, the ruling party is more than certain to win over Delta at the next governorship election, is being referenced as a win for Keyamo’s leadership of the party in Delta State.
Ganduje said, “We know our chapter in Delta will also implement internal democracy. We therefore, request you, the stakeholders, to come together to cooperate. We had two out of three senators before and now have the entire three in Delta. As we promised, we will take over Delta State.”
Thus, Senator Nwoko’s defection has immediately impacted the party such that leadership tussle can be said to have ended.
The point at issue in the state chapter of the party had been the question, who between a serving minister, in this case Keyamo and a former senator representing Delta Central and a former Deputy Senate President, Omon-Agege, should be recognised as the party’s leader in the state.
When he was Deputy President of the Senate, Omo-Agege was unquestionably the leader. He was the highest- ranking member of the party from the state. His opponents argue that he cannot continue to cling to that position forever. Currently, even the elected representatives and senators from the state do not have such ranking Omo-Agege once enjoyed. Rather, his opponents maintained, Keyamo, by virtue of his appointment as a minister makes him a natural choice for the leadership position of the party in the state.
The resulting conflict had intensified and factionalised the party, with various party leaders from across the state engaging in constant verbal war in support for or against their choice.
To intervene and restore order, the NCW set up a reconciliation committee led by the Olorogun O’tega Emerhor. But sooner had the committee submitted its report recognising the leadership role of appointed or elected members of rank from the state, that all hell was let loose.
Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, who once represented Delta North before Senator Nwoko, opposed the recommendations of the O’tega Emerhor’s committee. He even played down the importance of Senator Nwoko’s defection.
A political ally of Omo-Agege, Nwaoboshi accused the Emerhor-led committee of deepening divisions instead of resolving the differences among the party’s leaders following the last election.
Nwaoboshi said, “As someone with a long history in politics, I know the importance of adhering to party constitutions. Unfortunately, the committee is proposing leadership structures that are not recognised by our party’s constitution, which is a recipe for chaos.
“The recommendation for Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, the APC’s 2023 governorship candidate, a former Deputy President of the Senate and the number six man, to co-chair the party’s leadership with a serving minister contravenes Nigeria’s order of precedence, which places a senator above a minister. As a former Deputy President of the Senate, Omo-Agege cannot co-chair with a minister.”
He argued that such a move would undermine the integrity of the party’s hierarchy, considering the fact that Omo-Agege was a member of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the APC, as Deputy President of the Senate and currently a member of the Caucus.
“This crisis predates some of us joining APC. There were two factions led by Omo-Agege and Barrister Festus Keyamo. The Omo-Agege group prevailed in the last congress, but now the Keyamo faction, emboldened by a ministerial appointment, is trying to assert dominance. This is unacceptable,” Nwaoboshi lamented.
Also, Nwaoboshi is critical of Nwoko’s defection to the APC. He accused the Senator of plotting to dissolve the Delta APC executive.
Nwaoboshi, said, “I have been made aware that Senator Ned Nwoko, who recently announced his planned defection, is secretly plotting with some elements in the Presidency to dissolve the Delta State APC Executives from state to wards before their tenure expires. The plot is unconstitutional and motivated by personal gain, the moves disregard the democratic principles which our party upholds and disrespects the rights of the duly elected members of the Delta State APC Executive.”
However, a member of the O’tega Emerhor-led Delta APC reconciliation committee and former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and APC chieftain, Godsday Orubebe, has disagreed with Nwaoboshi’s critical statements, describing them as “unfortunate and lacking merit and moral right”.
Orubebe disclosed that Nwaoboshi, as a member of the reconciliation committee, failed to actively participate in its activities, including meetings and consultations.
He said, “Ordinarily, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi has no moral right to comment on the committee’s report. He was a member of the committee but never attended any of the meetings or visitations.
“To ensure inclusivity, we even visited him in his home, but he remained nonchalant. This is the very first time a committee has boldly provided actionable ideas to move Delta APC forward. When the constitution fails to resolve crises, conventions are used.
“This has worked at international levels and in other parts of Nigeria. Senator Nwaoboshi’s position is not only wrong but also uninformed. Politics is about managing people and their interests.”
“You can’t do it alone. You must work toward the common interest of the people, and that is the strength of the Emerhor-led committee’s report. It positions the party to face future battles. Let us appreciate what is good and realistic rather than condemn efforts based on unfounded reasons,” Orubebe stated.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Delta State has congratulated Senator Nwoko on his decision to join the party.
The state party chairman, Elder Omeni Sobotie, praised Nwoko for taking the decision and assured him that the party would accept him unconditionally because of his unwavering dedication to the welfare of the people of Delta State.
He said, “Nwoko’s decision to align with the APC signals a strategic step towards bringing about positive change and good governance for the people of Delta State,” Sobotie said, adding that Nwoko’s presence in APC will serve as a catalyst for the much-needed reforms and progress in Delta State, as his influence and extensive network will undoubtedly bolster the party’s strength in the state, “further solidifying our commitment to creating a better future for all Deltans.”
As things stand in the party in Delta State, Keyamo now enjoys the support of all critical stakeholders of the party in Delta APC, particularly, the three senators, some Representatives, especially Francis Ejiroghene Waive from Omo-Agege’s constituency, Ughelli North/Ughelli South/Udu House of Representatives at the National Assembly.
***Written by Kudje Anoli
