Tension in Delta, as Uduaghan dumps PDP for APC

TENSION has mounted in the family of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State as a former governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan is reported to have officially declared for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Reports said Uduaghan would be unveiled at the National Caucus meeting of his new party in Abuja tonight.

Dr Uduaghan’s defection’s speculation has been in the air for over a year, as his longtime ambition to represent Delta South Senatorial district has faced upheavals due to horse-trading among stalwarts of the PDP in the state including Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

The mounting tension is basically worrisome over the fears that several of his lieutenants and sympathizers, as well as other trusted PDP stalwarts of no mean repute, are prepared to jump ship with him.

A very close ally of the former governor, who pleaded anonymity, told TribuneOnline on phone Tuesday in Warri that Uduaghan’s defection was necessary to rekindle and salvage his political career as well as wriggle out of undue disdain from the Okowa-led PDP in the state.

“I don’t want to make some comments, but you know my real boss is Uduaghan.
If you look at the South-South region, I am the only voice of PDP.

“If you look at Delta State, you will find out that we do not have a commissioner for information.

Perhaps justifying Uduaghan’s defection to APC, the PDP chieftain said “In spite of the allocations we are getting from the Federal Government, Delta State remains the most backward state in this country.

“Nothing is happening in Delta State. Go to other states, things are working. So, Uduaghan going to APC, I will not make any comments yet. But I may join him.

“He is a former governor, this is a man who has served us for eight years and the man wants to go to the Senate and Okowa cannot use his discretion and say “Ejele come back here James Manager relax first make oga go.

“When Ibori came back from detention, so who cleared the way for him? It was Uduaghan. When Ibori landed after Uduaghan has cleared the way for him, the first statement he made was that Okowa should go for the second tenure.

“Is that not enough for Okowa to give him that respect and say Ibori’s brother should go for Senate?”

When asked if Chief James Ibori, the political godfather of Uduaghan, would follow his son to the APC, the evasive PDP top-shot quipped: “No, I don’t think so. He can play some role in the politics, but he cannot contest.”

Speaking on the lingering division in the Delta APC, he alleged that “Some of the APC members are in the payroll of the establishment in the state,” You know I cannot see why APC can’t close their ranks and take over from the PDP in Delta State.”

However, it will be recalled that the ruling PDP in the state has been in disarray following the longtime speculations of Uduaghan’s defection.

This has, over the time, prompted several unsuccessful moves to appease the erstwhile governor to stay so as not to bolster the APC which has vowed to oust Governor Okowa and the PDP in the coming elections.

Uduaghan has served under PDP from 1999 as Commissioner, secretary to the state government and governor for eight years as of 2015 when he left office.

Pundits say the defection of Uduaghan will bring a major setback to the political dynasty of Chief Ibori as well as the 2019 chances of Governor Okowa.

A newspaper report last week indicated that Uduaghan, Ibori’s first cousin, defected to APC when it became obvious that Okowa and some of his lieutenants were blocking his senatorial bid on the PDP platform even after Ibori’s fruitless intervention.

With the state marking its 27th anniversary last Monday, the two former governors, Ibori and Uduaghan conspicuously shunned the Sunday’s celebration and thanksgiving service ceremonies in Asaba; a signal that the rapprochement had broken down irretrievably.

Uduaghan was said to have been assured of the senatorial ticket by the APC after his reported tete-a-tete with Senator Bola Tinubu, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha and National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole.