On Friday, July 18, 2025, Elder Emma Ogidi, caretaker chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-South geopolitical zone and Delta State, expressed confidence in the party’s resilience despite the April 28 defection of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, former Governor Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, and other PDP members to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Speaking in an interview, Elder Ogidi, tasked by the PDP’s National Executive Committee (NEC) in late April to rebuild the Delta State chapter, stated that the party retains strong support among electorates and members across the state’s 25 local government areas. He described the PDP as an “Iroko tree,” unshaken by the defections, which he attributed to politicians seeking personal gain rather than the broader electorate, who remain loyal to the PDP’s brand. Ogidi has compiled a list of members for a state caretaker committee, to be appointed by the National Working Committee (NWC) and approved at the NEC meeting on July 23, to organize ward and local congresses and restore the party’s structure.
Addressing concerns about internal crises, including the influence of Mr. Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Elder Ogidi dismissed the notion that any single individual owns the PDP, emphasizing the party’s democratic processes through its NWC and NEC. He refuted claims that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and others have left for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), asserting they remain PDP members until formally resigning, and expressed optimism that the upcoming NEC meeting, which will approve convention and zoning committees, will strengthen the party’s unity. Ogidi denied being a placeholder for Oborevwori and Okowa, affirming his loyalty to the PDP’s national leadership. He urged Delta’s PDP faithful to remain steadfast, promising that the party, likened to an umbrella enduring the rainy season, will reclaim power in 2027 through discipline and grassroots support.
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