Real Reasons Ned Nwoko Dumped PDP for APC
Amid Panic In Delta Govt, PDP Circles, Real Reasons Ned Nwoko Joined APC
By Ikenna E Ogbuenyi
Senator Ned Nwoko after announcing his defection in the Senate chambers
After months of speculation, the Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Ned Nwoko officially resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) last week and defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). On Wednesday this week, he was formally ushered into APC by topshots of the party led by the National Chair, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje in Abuja. The developments followed failed moves to dissuade him from quitting by some concerned PDP chieftains. Apparently, the multi-billionaire international attorney felt he had had enough of the internal squabbles and disappointments bedeviling the leading national opposition party.
Already, Senator Nwoko’s defection, which received loud ovation, is creating panic and confusion in the state government and PDP circles in Delta. In an attempt to raise the low morale of members, the state government is said to have ordered the party’s caucuses at Senatorial, Federal Constituency and Local Government levels to convene emergency meetings for the purpose of passing vote of confidence on the the embattled state governor, Sheriff Oborevwori.
In a letter dated January 30 and addressed to the Chairman of PDP in Aniocha North Local Government Area (LGA) of Delta State, Senator Nwoko said his resignation stemmed from “deep divisions and factonalisaton within the party”. He added that the crisis in the party has not allowed him to deliver on his promises to his constituents.
Among others, Senator Nwoko stated: “The current structure of the party in our state has not been conducive to realizing these promises. After careful consideration, I have come to the conclusion that stepping away from the party is necessary to fulfill my obligations to my people. While I bid farewell to my membership in the PDP, I assure all party members and my constituents of my unwavering dedication to statesmanship, unity, and the advancement of Delta North.”
Understandably, Senator Nwoko officially cited deep divisions and factionalisation within the PDP as the primary reasons for his decision to resign from the party. But further probes have revealed that apart from deep-rooted internal crises rocking the PDP at the centre, there was a web of other inside factors in Delta State that contributed significantly to his decision to quit the party.
Nwoko’s Marginalization and Okowa’s Senatorial Come Back Bid
Senator Nwoko & ex-Gov Okowa
The marginalization of Senator Nwoko and his Delta North district in the scheme of affairs in Delta by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori played a significant role in forcing the Idumuje-Ugboko-born prince out of the ruling party in the oil-rich state. The governor, ostensibly at the behest of his political godfather and predecessor, Ifeanyi Okowa, had effectively sidelined him on many critical areas and affairs. Several underhand strategies and ploys were deployed to frustrate the philanthropic lawmaker and prevent his associates and supporters from advancing their needs and interests in the state no matter how germane.
The deliberate marginalization of the incumbent senator was a grand plot to whittle him down and return Dr Okowa to the Senate in 2027 at his expense. Recall that Dr Okowa represented Delta North district in the Senate between 2011 and 2015 prior to his election as governor in 2015. During the 2023 general election, he was a losing PDP vice-presidential candidate under Atiku Abubakar.
Dr Okowa’s unpopular decision to play second fiddle in the election was viewed as a stab on the back of other PDP governors and stakeholders from Southern Nigeria who few months to the 2023 had adopted the Asaba Declaration. The kernel of Asaba Declaration, which was the communiqué at the end of a meeting hosted in the Delta State capital by then Governor Okowa early in 2022, was that the presidency should return to the South and that no serving or former governor from the South should accept to run as vice-presidential candidate under any northern candidate. That backdoor decision by the Owa-born politician has continued to haunt and stigmatize him like a sore on the nose.
As a payback gesture to his godfather, Governor Oborevwori has since began moves to help Okowa regain his bearing despite the betrayer toga still hanging around him. The immediate option is to repackage him for the Senate under the PDP banner. The incumbent Senator, Ned Nwoko was the clear obstacle to that plan and he must be grounded and sacrificed at all cost.
One of the mechanisms for undermining and crippling Senator Nwoko is to make sure that his supporters are isolated and impoverished through denial of appointments or contracts by Mr Oborevwori’s government. The calculation is that denying his supporters of inclusion would weaken him and make him ineffective and unelectable at the coming 2027 election. “All they care about are positions. They don’t care about the people,” a political observer in the state told this newspaper.
Neglect of Delta North
Senator Nwoko & Gov Oborevwori
The senator’s supporters accused the state government of neglecting Delta North district while prioritising projects and appointments aligned with Mr Okowa’s political influence. His undiluted commitment to good governance is the driving force behind his strident advocacy of Delta North’s development and fair deal from the state government. Yet this disposition is what often puts him on collision course with some gladiators in the state.
Senator Nwoko accused the Oborevwori administration of not having the interests of the Anioma people (Delta North district) whom he represents, at heart. Since he took over on 29 May, 2023, there has not been any major beneficial project within the district to point at, with no sign that the situation would change soon. Among the projects the state government has turned blind eye on in the district are the Ogwashi-Uku dam, the Okpai IPP Power step down and the access road connecting parts of Ndokwa East LGA to the state capital through Oko, Abala-Oshimili and Utchi.
The Okpai Independent Power Plant (IPP) which is a joint project powers electricity across eight states including parts of FCT and Anambra with no step down in the Ndokwa host communities. Senator Nwoko frowns at the situation, insisting the Delta state government ought to partner with the Federal Government and the investors to activate power step down for the host communities which are still reeling under darkness. Senator Nwoko further suggested the use of public-private-partnership (PPP) with the state government providing recoverable funding guarantee, for the implementation of the project. But Governor Oborevwori rejected all the proposals citing the state government’s financial constraints.
For Senator Nwoko, the governor’s reasons for lack of action are untenable. His anger with the state government over its repeated failure to address critical needs of his people made him to refuse to move to move a motion for a vote of confidence on the governor during a PDP Caucus meeting last year. Although his action irked the governor, who was present at the meeting, but Senator Nwoko stood his ground maintaining that the governor had not done enough to deserve accolades.
Anioma State
Senator committed to Anioma State creation
Also at the core of the disagreement was the quest for the creation of Anioma State out of the present Delta State. The renewed agitation for the creation of the new state has been spearheaded by Senator Nwoko. His bill for the creation of Anioma State has attracted considerable attention and is currently being debated in the National Assembly. Senator Nwoko said he was pressured to withdraw his bill for the creation of Anioma State but he flatly refused stressing that he was merely expressing the age long wish of the majority of the people of Delta North to have a state of their own.
Insecurity in Delta North
The failure of the administrations of Okowa and Oborevwori to meaningfully tackle persisting insecurity in Delta North especially kidnappings, killings and cultism is another reason behind Senator Okowa’s dumping of PDP. His several calls and counsels on the State Government to set up and fund local security outfits to support the Police in flushing out criminal herdsmen from the State mostly in Delta North were ignored. The lawmaker was appalled by the nonchalant attitude of the state government despite the huge amounts the governor collects as security vote every month.
Rejection of SUV Car Gift
One action of Senator Nwoko that angered the governor was his rejection of his government’s gift of an SUV car gift plus monthly N10million Naira payment. Senator politely turned down the offer maintaining that he did not need the car and that he did not need such money because it is actually the tax payers’ money that should be used for their benefit and wellbeing. His action was frowned at as a bad table manner and an act of disloyalty to the PDP and the governor.
Refusal to be tamed by ‘System’
Senator Nwoko, ever radiant and charismatic
Senator Nwoko’s independent and uncompromised background places him on strong moral high grounds. But in a clime like Delta State, being forthright is often deemed as disloyalty to the ruling party and the established system. To the loyalists of the system and their leaders, the likes of Senator Nwoko stand condemned for not only breaking loose from the established system but also disrupting the status quo.
Senator Nwoko says he cannot afford to be loyal to a ‘system’ which requires him to put the party and the state government ahead of his people and their needs. He says he cannot keep sealed lips and ignore the pains, hardships, and slavery conditions his constituents have been subjected to over the years, under successive governments of PDP in the state. He would not turn a blind eye to the dehumanizing condition of his people on the altar of party politics. For him, the state has had enough of the dynasty that had deprived it of true dividends of democracy and the APC comes handy as the vehicle to effect the long overdue change in Delta North and the state.
Mismanagement of Public Funds
For years, Delta State has been receiving the fattest share of revenue from the centre (Abuja). This is by virtue of the fact that it is currently the biggest oil-producing state in the country. The state’s share from FAAC is equivalent to what the entire five Southeast states receives. Yet states like Anambra, Edo and Enugu are doing far better that Delta in terms of provable indices of development. Senator Nwoko touched on this sore point on Wednesday when he said:
“I am just going to give you an instance. In the past two years or thereabouts, we have had a government in Delta that is bereft of how to manage resources. We have resources. We have money in Delta; More than any other state in Nigeria. Maybe you don’t know that.
“We receive less, give or take, about N52 billion every month. We receive, for financial account and for 30 per cent derivation payment, no other state in Nigeria, not even Lagos or Rivers, gets anything near to it. But there is nothing to show for it.”
Senator Nwoko said one of his major reasons for quitting PDP was to team up with like-minds in APC to rescue Delta from the predators of its resources. He said he cannot afford to stand and watch while a gang of greedy politicians loot the state dry while the people are suffering and deprived of impactful development.
Ned Nwoko’s Rich Background Gives Him Edge
Born into the royal family of Idumuje-Ugboko kingdom in Aniocha-North local government area of Delta State, Ned Nwoko, right from childhood, was brought up under strict traditional guidance, ethos and discipline. His journey began in the rusty streets of his ancient hometown, Idumuje-Ugboko where he learned the values of hard work, humility, respect and perseverance. Propelled and guided by sublime vision of prosperous future through hard work and a steadfast commitment to his goals, he rose meteorically through the thick and thins of adolescence and youth to exhibit early signs of success and leadership. Having deciphered the early signs of wisdom, courage and adventure in teenage boy, his family wasted no time in sponsoring him abroad to the United Kingdom in pursuit of golden fleece and the honing of his blooming sartorial attributes.
Before his foray into active politics in Nigeria way back in 1998, he had already established an enviable reputation as a successful international lawyer and businessman. Senator Nwoko had a successful tenure as an honorable member of the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2003. Twenty years after, he returned to National Assembly as the Senator representing Delta North district, otherwise known as Anioma in 2023.
He says he cannot afford to stand aloof while majority of the people wallow in deprivation unleashed by bad governance and systemic corruption. He is immersed in the urgency of now with his binoculars focused on what could be done to better the lives of the people, starting with his Anioma constituents, Delta State and Nigeria at large.
His undiluted commitment to good governance is the driving force behind his strident advocacy of Delta North’s development and fair deal from the state government. Yet this disposition is what often puts him on collision course with many gladiators in the state who are driven by contrary considerations.
The Confidence Vote Saga
An attempt was made to coerce him to eat the humble pie when he was suddenly called upon to move a motion for a vote of confidence on the state governor, Mr Oborevwori during a PDP caucus meeting. This is the same administration he has accused of underperforming as far infrastructures provision in Delta North is concerned. Senator Nwoko declined to move the motion attracting the ire of the governor who was present at the meeting.
Senator Nwoko captured that cockish and daring moment in an interview on Wednesday after being received by APC leaders led by the National Chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. “At the last caucus meeting, when I was asked to move a motion for a vote of confidence for the Governor before former governors, and the leadership of the House of Assembly, I refused to do it. I told him I couldn’t do it because I have no confidence in him. He was looking at me as if I was speaking Latin. I said No. I told him I couldn’t do it. But look, Nigerians suffer greatly because of bad governance. That’s why people are poor