DELTA STATE PDP SHOULD HOLD ITSELF RESPONSIBLE FOR SEN NED NWOKO'S EXIT FROM THE PARTY

Delta State PDP has shot itself in the foot by pushing Sen. Ned Nwoko out of the party. What began as a minor issue has now escalated into a full-blown crisis. The bitter truth is that majority of educated and well-meaning Delta Northerners support Sen. Ned Nwoko's effort to promote the development of the Delta North Senatorial District, which he currently represents in the Nigerian Senate.

Sen. Nwoko’s commitment to ensuring that Delta North benefits from the developmental agenda of the current PDP-led state government has unfortunately resulted in him being labeled an enemy by the so-called "system." Despite his private conversations with the Governor about developing his Senatorial District, these discussions have gone unheeded.

Driven by a passion for advancing Delta North, Sen. Nwoko, after over a year of private discussions with the Governor, felt compelled to raise his concerns publicly on behalf of his constituents. This culminated in an open expression of his frustrations during a PDP caucus meeting, where he poignantly questioned the rationale behind giving a vote of thanks to the Governor, given the lack of development in his area.

For those familiar with Delta State politics, it is a well known fact, that in all elections since 1999, the combined votes of Delta North and Delta South have always delivered a PDP Governor in the state, including in the most recent Governorship election because Delta Central have always been the home of opposition politics in Delta state. Essentially, Sen. Nwoko is advocating for his people in Delta North to receive what is rightfully theirs, and his request is not personal.

As a PDP leader in Delta North, Sen. Nwoko is not seeking personal contracts or favours; rather, he is calling for the development of Delta North from the significantly increased state revenue following the removal of the fuel subsidy. This is not too much to ask. In fact, Sen. Nwoko even declined the Padro Jeep that the Delta State Government presented to all Federal legislators from the state.

While the PDP may attempt to mock Sen. Nwoko's planned defection to the APC, the facts speak for themselves. If the PDP loses the Delta North Senatorial District in the upcoming General Election, they will effectively lose Delta State as a whole. The PDP seems unable to learn from its past mistakes and is growing increasingly arrogant. The APC would gladly welcome one of the best-performing Senators into its ranks.