- Ovie Omo-Agege revealed 10 PDP lawmakers were about to defect to the APC
- The defections could increase APC’s numbers in the Delta State House of Assembly, potentially changing its leadership structure
- The defection of Chief Itiako Ikpokpo to APC has been described as a significant win for APC in Delta State
Former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, has revealed that 10 lawmakers from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Delta State House of Assembly are preparing to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Omo-Agege, who was the APC governorship candidate in the 2023 elections, made this announcement on Saturday, February 9, while welcoming Chief Itiako Ikpokpo (aka Malik), a two-term chairman of Isoko South Local Government Area, into the APC.
The event took place at Uro-Irri, Delta State, and saw party members and political leaders come together to celebrate the defection.
Addressing the gathering, Omo-Agege claimed that the PDP's longstanding dominance in Delta State was “rapidly crumbling,” citing the defections as evidence of APC’s growing influence in the state.
“A major realignment in the power structure of the Delta State House of Assembly is looming as 10 lawmakers are set to dump PDP for APC,” Omo-Agege declared, further adding that the party's momentum is gaining strength.
He went on to explain that with seven APC lawmakers already in the Delta House of Assembly, the defection of the 10 PDP members would bring the APC’s numbers to 17. This, Omo-Agege suggested, could lead to a shift in the House’s leadership, with the opposition party gaining more control.
Omo-Agege attributed APC's growing strength in Delta to the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu, which he claimed had led to a dramatic increase in the state's federal allocations, rising to over N1 trillion in just one and a half years.
“The financial improvements under Tinubu’s administration show that APC is delivering good governance. More politicians are aligning with the ruling party because of these achievements,” Omo-Agege added.
He also described the defection of Chief Itiako Ikpokpo as a crucial turning point for the APC in Delta State. Omo-Agege revealed that he had persistently pressured Ikpokpo to join the APC and was pleased that he had finally made the move. He noted that despite being in PDP, Ikpokpo had been a vocal supporter of his candidacy in 2023.
In his speech, Chief Ikpokpo pledged to strengthen the APC’s presence in Delta State and work towards expanding the party’s political reach across the state.
Delta governor criticises Tinubu’s economic policies
Meanwhile, TheRadar reported that the governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, criticised the economic policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, blaming them for exacerbating poverty, unemployment, and hunger in Nigeria.
He argued that the President’s policies, particularly the removal of the petroleum subsidy and the floating of the naira, have had negative consequences, including the devaluation of the naira and runaway inflation, effectively swallowing any potential benefits.
