BY AJUWA VICTOR

In a move described as a major political shakeup in Delta State, top leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), including National Chairman, His Excellency Abdullahi Umar Ganduje; Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo and Mr. Chiedu Ebie, Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Governing Board, will formally receive members of the Delta Unity Group (DUG) into the APC fold this Saturday. 

The high-profile event is scheduled to take place at the Old Bendel Hotel, Boji Boji Owa, Agbor, Delta State by 10 a.m. and is expected to be attended by key political stakeholders from across the region.

According to a statement issued by Ebie’s media aide, Jerome-Mario Utomi, the defection of DUG members is considered one of the most significant political events in recent Delta history. 

The DUG, which has historically operated within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), comprises largely of grassroots political actors who have been the backbone of the PDP since the advent of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic in 1999. 

Their mass defection to the APC is expected to significantly alter the political balance in the state and could potentially reshape upcoming electoral contests.

The statement highlights that this move is a deliberate and strategic attempt by patriotic actors in Delta State to rescue the state from what they describe as the incompetent leadership of the PDP. 

The decision also aligns with efforts to foster inclusivity, justice, and people-focused governance, which the DUG claims has been lacking under PDP’s stewardship.

The statement recalled the case of Mr. Chiedu Ebie, a co-convener of DUG and former Secretary to the Delta State Government and Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, who was suspended by the PDP in 2023 for alleged anti-party activities. 

His subsequent defection to the APC has reportedly earned him significant goodwill among Deltans, thanks to his role in facilitating several impactful infrastructure and educational projects.

Since its formation in 2023, the DUG has championed a new wave of political engagement centred on equity, fairness, and participatory democracy. 

The group has made considerable progress in expanding its influence across Delta State, particularly in Ika Federal Constituency where it now boasts over 5,000 registered members. 

Saturday’s ceremony is anticipated to symbolise a major consolidation of power for the APC in the state.