The Director of Communications to the senator representing Delta North, Ned Nwoko, Ms. Gloria Okolugbo, has said the lawmaker has dumped the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).
Okolugbo spoke at the weekend on Arise TV.
The senator’s media aide said the senator took the action following the frustration he suffered in the hands of PDP’s leadership in Delta State.
She said: “Senator Nwoko came prepared to serve and deliver the dividends of good governance to Anioma people, but regrettably, he had not enjoyed the cooperation and support of his party, the PDP, in pursuit of his vision, even as the only PDP senator in Delta State.”
Okolugbo cited instances of frustration Nwoko allegedly suffered in the hands of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and the PDP.
The media aide said this includes the state government’s alleged refusal to assist in funding the Okpai IPP step-down to supply electricity to about 60 communities in Delta North and the Ogwashi-Uku dam to provide water to the community and its environs.
She explained that Senator Nwoko believed that it was no use remaining in a party where his electioneering campaign promises to the people of Delta North could hardly be fulfilled, despite the “marginalization” the zone had suffered.
Okolugbo blamed the Delta State chapter of the PDP for lacking internal democracy, stressing that Senator Nwoko would make his defection public anytime soon.
She added: “What I can tell you is that today Senator Ned Nwoko held a consultative meeting with his constituents to inform them of his interest to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party…”
“With the concluded arrangements by the senator representing Delta North’s defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the ruling APC will now have all the three (Delta State) senators in its fold.
“There have been a lot of processes that he has gone through trying to speak to the internal party structures to see that the issues that we have in Delta North are resolved. As it is now, Delta PDP has lost all three senators to the ruling APC, a development that could spell doom for the PDP in Delta State.
“One of the key reasons for which a legislator or a serving member can defect is factionalisation. You don’t have to see violence before you know there’s factionalisation in the party.
“And as we move ahead, it’s very important for us to strengthen the democratic institutions. Representative democracy is actually about balance of power, transparency in governance and accountable use of resources.
“So, it took a lot of groundwork and a lot of service to the people before we got PDP to become the predominant party of Delta State that delivered the last set of votes.
“Distinguished Senator Ned Nwoko was on the field even after he had won his elections, promising the electorate that together they would deliver the dividends of god governance, because this is about representative democracy.”
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