PDP chairman: Delta gov’s defection painful, 2027 election’ll be between APC, Nigerians

The acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagum, has described mass defection involving Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and other party leaders in the state to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as painful and disappointing.

Damagum made this known at a ceremony for the issuance of Certificate of Return to the PDP governorship candidate for Anambra State governorship election, Jude Ezenwafor, in Abuja on Thursday, April 24, 2025.

Damagum described the mass defection as disappointing given the kind of support the party gave to Delta State.

The PDP chairman said: “It is very sad and unfortunate because to me, if there’s any state that should think that way, not Delta, because the party is very magnanimous.

“I thank God that in their message, they didn’t say that the party did anything wrong to them other than good.

“It’s a decision taken by them, but the pains will be in us not because of anything, but because we gave Delta all our support, from the emergence of the governor to his predecessor, who also doubled as our vice presidential candidate.

“We least expected this action from them. All the same, this is a party that has seen more than that, but it’s still standing.”

Damagum noted that the party leadership was taking stock to set up a caretaker committee for the party in Delta State.

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“I want to use this opportunity to say we’ll take over our structures immediately,” he added.

The PDP chairman stated that the 2027 general election would not be about how many governors a party has but about Nigerians.

Damagum urged all PDP members to close ranks and rescue Nigeria, saying no challenge is insurmountable.

He, however, congratulated Ezenwafor for emerging as the party’s candidate in Anambra State and expressed confidence of victory in the election.

Damagum said: “I want to encourage you. You have started well. From the evolution of the state executive to your emergence as our candidate.

“I think what you need to do is to go back and consolidate. I’m going to make sure that everyone is back on board. I assure you of our total support and commitment.”

Speaking, Ezenwafor expressed optimism that he would win the governorship election, describing Anambra as a PDP state.

“All of us contesting the governorship election in Anambra State today, including the serving governor were once governorship aspirants within the PDP but as a bridge-builder, I will consolidate and move forward,” Ezenwafor said.

The Star