The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, has expressed confidence that more opposition governors will soon defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
Ganduje made this statement on Monday during the official welcome ceremony held in Asaba for Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his predecessor, Ifeanyi Okowa, both of whom recently left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the APC.
The defection of Oborevwori and Okowa, along with other major political stakeholders in Delta State, effectively ended the PDP’s nearly 26-year dominance in the state.
READ ALSO: Delta gov Oborevwori, Okowa join APC
The two leaders were instrumental in transferring the PDP’s political structure to the APC.
Speaking at the event, Ganduje thanked the APC governors who attended the ceremony and stated that the party’s ranks would soon swell further with the defection of more opposition figures.
While presenting the APC flag to Oborevwori, Ganduje said, “I must thank our 21 executive governors — and now, with the addition of our 22nd governor, I am even more grateful to them for their steadfast support. Let me tell you: keep your ears and eyes open. Very soon, more and more will join us.”
Meanwhile, Okowa explained that their decision to defect was driven by the need to strengthen Delta State’s connection to the federal government.
“When the news broke on Wednesday that we had decided to change our path, people wondered why. But one thing is very important in a people’s history: there is always a time to change their path for the common good of the people,” Okowa said.
READ ALSO: Okpebholo: Edo, Delta will deliver Tinubu’s re-election
He added, “As I told people that day, it was not about me, it was not about the governor, but about the need for us to connect to Abuja — to that goodwill that is in Abuja, to the resources that are in Abuja, of which Delta State is a major contributor. There was a need to connect to it.”
Okowa described the defection as both patriotic and strategic, admitting that the state lost considerable opportunities during his tenure because it remained in opposition.
