Senate Announces Ned Nwoko’s Defection, Chamber Erupts In Chants

Senate confirms Ned Nwoko’s defection from PDP to APC.
Nwoko cites PDP’s instability as the reason for his exit.
Delta official alleges defection is a move to secure a 2027 governorship bid.

The Senate has officially confirmed the defection of Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Nwoko’s resignation from the PDP was announced in a correspondence read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary. In his letter, the senator attributed his defection to the worsening instability and internal crises within the opposition party, stating that the PDP’s current state threatens his political career and future ambitions.

Following the announcement, the chamber erupted in thunderous chants as Nwoko was escorted to the majority wing of the Upper Chamber, signifying his new political alignment.

The senator also called for the establishment of an ad hoc committee to investigate the ongoing crisis within the PDP, stressing the importance of a strong opposition to maintain Nigeria’s democratic balance.

Meanwhile, the Director General of the Delta State Orientation and Communication Bureau, Fred Oghenesivbe, who serves as an aide to Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, has alleged that Nwoko’s defection was purely strategic. Oghenesivbe claimed the senator left the PDP out of fear that he would not secure the party’s governorship ticket for the 2027 elections.

Reacting to Nwoko’s departure, Oghenesivbe dismissed claims of factional divisions as the primary reason for the move, insisting that the senator was only positioning himself for political survival.

Nwoko officially resigned from the PDP last Friday, submitting his resignation letter to his Ward 8 Chairman in Aniocha North Local Government Area. The letter, dated January 30, 2025, cited deep-seated divisions and irreconcilable differences within the party.

His defection adds to the growing wave of political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.