The Rocky Road to APC Membership for Ex-PDP Delta Members
Ace of Heated Dispute: Delta APC Fumes Over Registration of PDP Deserters
The Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) former members in Delta State who recently dollar-dropped to the All Progressives Congress (APC) alongside Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his former boss, Ifeanyi Okowa, are facing some serious resistance in their quest to don the new APC member tag.
The issue at hand is that these former PDP bigwigs are refusing to kiss their former party goodbye by officially tendering their resignation letters. This has left party leaders scratching their heads on how to handle this defector conundrum.
Vanguard sniffed around and found out that the APC's member registration process in Delta State has been living up to its billing as the "Games of Confusion." Ward leaders in certain corners of the state refused to welcome these new APC members with open arms, demanding they present proof of their divorce papers from the PDP before they can walk down the aisle with the APC.
An "in the know" insider shed some light on the matter, explaining that this stubborn stance of the ward leaders created a massive logjam in the registration process, with many would-be APC members being left out at the altar due to the refusal by these leaders to accept them without a prenup.
With the resistance causing a bureaucratic headache, the APC state leadership stepped into the fray and gave a swift kick to the obstacles, urging ward and local government leaders to overlook the defectors' failure to submit resignation letters.
Meanwhile, PDP members who refused to kick and scream about the departure of Governor Oborevwori and Senator Okowa have vowed to rebuild the party in the state. Over the weekend, local government chapters and ward members of the PDP, who rejected the leadership change, had a powwow to discuss strategies on reviving the party's fortunes. These PDP loyalists seem determined to stand their ground in the face of the defections, and sources suggest that some of them remain wary of integrating the defectors into their ranks.
One source revealed, "This blending thing ain't going smoothly yet. The old PDP members are shaking like leaves, while the new APC runner-ups are just observing."
In response to the standoff, the APC state publicity secretary, Valentine Onojeghuo, has given the green light for local government and ward chairmen to register the defectors without any strings attached. This decree includes ignoring the demand for divorce papers from the PDP, signaling the APC's willingness to embrace these new members, no matter the procedural fiasco.
He said in a statement, "All party functionaries at the grassroots, local government chairmen, and ward chairmen, are hereby instructed to eliminate any hurdles, red tape, or procedural shenanigans that may hinder the seamless registration and integration of these new members."
Speaking to Vanguard, the chairman of the APC in Ughelli North local government area, Obakpororo Onoabedje, said that they had issued cards to ward chairmen to go and register any PDP members interested in joining the APC dance floor. He reported that, because of these new members' indecision, the registration process is moving at a snail's pace, with many reluctant to make a move.
The chairman of the PDP, South-South, Emma Ogidi, said he was encouraged by the resistance of many PDP members to the defection. He said he had given the party's supporters guidelines on forming a caretaker committee and said, "I have told them to keep their doors open till one month before we shut it."
A lawsuit challenging the defection of PDP members in Delta State has yet to be filed, according to reports. Whether the PDP will take legal action or not remains to be seen, but for now, it seems the APC is making a smooth move in welcoming the ex-PDP members, even if they're still stuck on their exes.
- The ex-PDP members in Delta State, including Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his former boss, Ifeanyi Okowa, are facing resistance in their attempts to become APC members, refusing to submit resignation letters.
- Ward leaders in some parts of Delta State have demanded the new APC members present proof of their resignation from the PDP before they can join the party.
- The APC state leadership has urged ward and local government leaders to overlook the defectors' failure to submit resignation letters, causing a logjam in the registration process.
- PDP loyalists are wary of integrating the defectors into their ranks, with one source stating, "This blending thing ain't going smoothly yet."
- The APC state publicity secretary has given the green light for local government and ward chairmen to register new members without any requirements, despite the demand for divorce papers from the PDP.
- Despite the standoff, the APC is making a smooth move in welcoming the ex-PDP members, although the registration process is moving slowly due to their indecision.
- The PDP chairman, South-South, Emma Ogidi, is encouraged by the resistance of many PDP members to the defection, and has given guidelines for forming a caretaker committee.
- A lawsuit challenging the defection of PDP members in Delta State has yet to be filed, leaving the PDP's response uncertain, but the APC seems to be progressing with the integration of the ex-PDP members.
