‘We’ll retrieve our mandates’: PDP to sue Delta governor, others over defection to APC

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has directed its National Legal Adviser to initiate legal proceedings aimed at reclaiming the party’s mandate from Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori over his defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Others whose mandates are also to be reclaimed are lawmakers and other elected officials who recently defected along with Oborevwori to the APC.

The PDP Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, announced this during a press briefing following the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) meeting held in Abuja on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.

Damagum disclosed that the NWC had also mandated the Emmanuel Ogidi-led South-South Zonal Caretaker Committee to assume control of the party structure in Delta State, pending the constitution of a state caretaker committee.

Damagum said: “We have instructed the zonal caretaker committee to take charge of Delta after dissolving all existing structures, as most of their members have defected.

“A caretaker committee will be constituted shortly.

“We’ve also directed the National Legal Adviser to initiate legal steps to recover our mandates.

“According to the Electoral Act, any elected official who defects automatically relinquishes the office they occupy.”

Damagum further announced that the NWC had approved zonal congresses for the South-West, North-East, and South-East regions.

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He added that a caretaker committee had been approved for the North Central zone pending upcoming elections.

The PDP chairman disclosed that the NWC deliberated on a wide range of internal party matters and adopted key recommendations made by the PDP Governors’ Forum at its recent meeting in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.

Among the resolutions adopted were the scheduling of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting for May 27 and the national convention from August 28 to August 30, subject to NEC approval.

Speaking on the wave of defections, Damagum urged party members not to be discouraged.

The PDP chairman added: “Yes, they [APC] may coerce or intimidate our members into defecting, but we are confident the Nigerian people will respond appropriately when the time comes.

“It has happened before, and it will happen again.”

He dismissed claims of internal crisis within the NWC, saying: “There is no crisis.

Damagum assured that preparations for the national convention to usher in new executives were already underway and stressed the party’s resilience.

The Star