He explained that Delta was one of the major funders of the PDP, adding that the defection of the governor was one of the major boosts for the APC, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo SAN, on Monday said the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lost its soul in Delta State, with the defection of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Keyamo stated this during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
He explained that Delta was one of the major funders of the PDP, adding that the defection of the governor was one of the major boosts for the APC, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Oborevwori and his deputy, Monday Onyeme, dumped the PDP for the APC on April 23.
The governor was joined by his predecessor and the running mate of Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 presidential election, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, ending the PDP’s reign of more than two decades in the oil-rich state.
Keyamo said, “The PDP knows that they have lost something like their soul. Delta was like the soul of the PDP. Delta was one of the major funders of the PDP; they have lost it.
“This is one of the major boosts for the APC, ahead of 2027, and even beyond in terms of the growth and development of the party. So, it’s a major political seismic activity that took place today.”
The minister explained that the defection was also important for the people of the state as it would help the state to align with the politics of the government at the centre.
He said, “It’s a win for the people of Delta State first of all and a win for the Nigerian people as a whole, because it’s always important for a state to align with the politics of the government at the centre. You may say that after politics, then it’s all governance.
“But as human beings, sometimes this division between parties affects governance; so you have a different party at the state level and another one at the federal level.”
“Remember the case of Lagos State when the present President was the governor and you have (Olusegun) Obasanjo at the federal level and all the quarrels and court cases back and forth.
“But for my state, Delta State, to be aligned with the centre at this time of major economic transformation going on in the country, it’s a very momentous occasion that took place today,” Keyamo added.
He stressed that the Oborevwori’s movement to the APC was round peg in a round hole as the governor was already doing well in the state.
He noted that APC leaders in the state agreed to make the governor the leader of the party.
Oborevwori was officially received into the party on Monday by chieftains of the ruling APC, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, the party’s National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, and Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, who is the chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum.
The governor, while explaining the reason for his defection, said President Bola Tinubu had shown him and other defectors “love”.
“We cannot face him in 2027 to work against him. When you consult widely, you can see that the love is organic,” he added.