Delta: Brewing suspicion as PDP defectors refuse to register for APC

For unknown reasons, several former Delta State PDP members who joined Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his predecessor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, in the All Progressives Congress (APC) have refused to quit their membership and still wish to join the APC.

According to sources, the ongoing registration process got off to a rough start since APC ward leaders in some parts of the state refused to register PDP defectors, requesting proof of their departure from the party.

This occurred over the weekend as PDP members from the state’s various wards and local government chapters who rejected Oborevwori and Okowa’s move to the APC came together and vowed to rebuild the party.

The ongoing registration process experienced some hiccups when the new members were refused registration because they failed to present their resignation letters.

The development compelled the state APC, led by Elder Omeni Sobotie, to quickly intervene, instructing the ward and local government leaders to overlook the non-presentation of resignation letters.

The PDP’s South-South Zonal Caretaker Chairman, Elder Emmanuel Ogidi, who is facilitating the rebirth process, told reporters that the state’s caretaker executive would be accessible within a month.

It was acknowledged that the rivalry and chilly relationship between PDP and APC members prior to the defection caused some defectors to be unsure about the exercise.

“This coming together is not smooth yet. The old members are afraid of the new members, while the new members are just watching,” a source revealed.

However, Mr Valentine Onojeghuo, the APC state publicity secretary, has directed the local government and ward chairmen to register the newly defected members without any preconditions or demands, including letters of resignation from the PDP.

He said in a statement: “All party functionaries at the grassroots, local government chairmen and ward chairmen are hereby instructed to eliminate any bureaucratic hurdles, red tape or procedural bottlenecks that may hinder the seamless registration and integration of these new members.”

Speaking to reporters, chairman of the APC in Ughelli North local government area, Mr. Obakpororo Onoabedje, said, “Currently, we have issued cards to ward chairmen to go and register PDP members willing to register.

“From skeletal reports, they are not forthcoming; they are foot-dragging. From what we are seeing and experiencing, the exercise is very clumsy.”

But a source said, “They only just left PDP, but registration is low-key for now. There is no stipulated time they should come and register. The registration, like the Permanent Voter Card, runs from morning till evening.

“They will move when the time comes; most people want to be sure. It is a gradual process. The process is slow because the people are sitting back to watch what is going to come next.