Delta, Akwa Ibom Govs Defend Defection To APC, Say ‘No One Forced Us’
Governors of Delta and Akwa Ibom States, Sheriff Oborevwori and Umo Eno, have strongly defended their decisions to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), describing their defections as voluntary and in the best interest of their states.
Their statements come in response to claims by PDP chieftain Kola Ologbondiyan, who alleged that opposition governors were being “harassed and forced” to defect to the APC.
PDP’s Allegations of Intimidation
Ologbondiyan, a former National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, made his remarks on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Tuesday.
He suggested that the APC-led Federal Government was applying undue pressure on PDP governors to abandon the opposition party, particularly in light of recent tensions in Rivers State.
“Talking about the Rivers situation, I will be honest—the PDP did all it could, some on a negative side, others on a positive side. But the takeaway is that its governors are being harassed,” Ologbondiyan said.
He further accused the ruling party of humiliating PDP governors, arguing that many felt compelled to defect to President Bola Tinubu’s APC.
“Whether they can openly say it or not, they are being forced to abandon their party and join the All Progressives Congress,” he alleged.
Delta Governor: Decision Made in State’s Interest
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, through his Chief Press Secretary Festus Ahon, dismissed these allegations, insisting that Delta’s move to the APC was a deliberate, strategic choice aimed at fostering closer collaboration with the Federal Government.
“Nobody forced anyone to join the APC. We joined on our own for the interest of Deltans and to bring development to the state,” Ahon explained in an interview with Punch.
He stressed that Delta State had remained in opposition since 2015 and could no longer afford to be cut off from the benefits of federal alignment.
“We cannot continue to remain in opposition. So, we decided to join APC to key into the government at the centre,” he added.
APC Spokesman Rejects Claims as “Insulting”
Responding to Ologbondiyan’s remarks, APC’s Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, described the accusations as baseless and disrespectful to the governors involved.
“For him to say they were coerced or forced means he doesn’t believe these governors have the liberty or courage to choose a better platform. That is an insult to their personalities,” Ibrahim said.
He challenged Ologbondiyan to present evidence of coercion, insisting that without proof, the claims amounted to mere speculation.
“Otherwise, he is just peddling speculation an antidote to democracy,” he added.
Ibrahim further argued that the wave of defections reflected growing confidence in President Tinubu’s leadership, highlighting what he described as unprecedented financial support from the APC-led Federal Government.
“Never in their history as governors have they received so much money as they are receiving now because of the reforms made,” he noted.
Former Military Administrator: PDP’s Internal Issues to Blame
Retired Group Captain Sam Ewang, a former Military Administrator of Ogun and Rivers States, offered another perspective, arguing that the defections were rooted in internal PDP problems and local political dynamics.
“I believe it’s the circumstances and the workings of the PDP that are forcing them to defect,” Ewang said.
He specifically cited Akwa Ibom’s political landscape, suggesting Governor Umo Eno’s decision followed extensive consultations with stakeholders who warned of possible disappointment if he remained in the PDP.
“Here in Akwa Ibom State, Governor Umo Eno consulted very widely and everybody told him to leave to avoid disappointment from PDP and himself,” Ewang explained.
PDP Chieftain in Akwa Ibom Accuses Governors of Betrayal
However, not all within the PDP accept the governors’ justifications. Tom Fredfish, a PDP chieftain in Akwa Ibom State, condemned the defections as acts of betrayal driven by personal ambition.
“I don’t believe anyone can be forced out of their wish. Those who defected did so out of greed and a quest for political power,” Fredfish said.
He accused the defecting governors of seeking to preserve their political influence by shifting party structures that had been entrusted to them.
“They moved the structures given to them for free to another party they believe is secure enough to guarantee their re-election,” he charged.
Fredfish also questioned their commitment to democratic principles.
“They are not democrats; they only pretended to be. They feared being frustrated politically, so they joined the train to stay in power,” he concluded.
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