Politics
Defection: Tension In Delta As Omo-Agege Deepens Consultations
By Emmanuel Aziken
The camp of the erstwhile Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege was at the weekend intensifying consultations on its response to the defection of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Omo-Agege, once the undisputed leader of the APC in Delta State, with the defection could now be forced to play the second fiddle to his former bitter rivals, notably Governor Oborevwori and his predecessor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa.
GWG.ng reports that shell-shocked supporters of Omo-Agege have since the defection on Wednesday kept a loud silence with many of his associates keeping quiet. Aides have also refused to pick their phones to known newsmen.
It was, however, gathered at the weekend that Omo-Agege has following the defection been engaged in deep consultations with some of his leading associates including Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, Chief Ayiri Eyamami, former Speaker Monday Igbuya, former Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Comrade Ozuozorie Macaulay among many others.
The APC in Delta State had been cloned in the image of the former deputy president of the Senate after he singlehandedly influenced the emergence of all state and local government executives during the last congress in 2021. GWG.ng reports that Aviation and Aerospace minister had at that time frowned at the development calling the APC executives across Delta State as Omo-Agege’s houseboys and house girls.
While a number of the former party executives have left the camp of the Deputy Senate President, a substantial proportion remain loyal to him creating a burden on how to respond to the defection.
Last February, Omo-Agege had during his consultations around the state charged Oborevwori and Okowa not to defect charging that they were not wanted in the APC.’
Speaking at a parley with party members in Ika Federal Constituency, he said:
“We have built this party from scratch, and we will not allow people with questionable records to destroy what we have worked hard for.
“Soon, we will have three senators, and I am aware that the three PDP House of Reps members are joining APC.
“Some House of Assembly members will also join us. We welcome everyone except Oborevwori and Okowa. They should remain in PDP and rebuild their party.”
With his aides and associates keeping silent over the defection of the PDP leaders to his party, there were speculations at the weekend that Omo-Agege could be heading towards the Social Democratic Party, SDP or even the PDP.
However, an associate who spoke to GWG.ng rebuffed the claim asserting that there were many reasons for the former DSP to remain in the APC.
“It is not going to be easy, one must confess but there are many reasons not to believe the rumours of Omo-Agege defecting.
“His reason for keeping quiet is essentially because he needs to consult and right now consultations are going on with many of his associates. They need to decide what they want, and what they can come out with the new development,” the source confided in GWG.ng.
“He has to talk with others too, he is not going to go alone. He has people like Igbuya, Ayiri, Chiedu Ebie (NDDC Chairman), Ibori’s daughter, Nwaoboshi and many, many people.”
“When they finish they will now have to present their template to the national leadership for them to engage with the new comers,” the source said.
Omo-Agege’s inclination nonetheless, GWG.ng reports that some of his former followers who were once derided as his houseboys have been enthusiastic over the development.
Among them the state exco which was at one time beholden to him on Thursday without reference to Omo-Agege ordered local government chairmen to immediately mobilise registration materials for the new comers. That was while Omo-Agege was yet to give a statement on the entry of the PDP leaders into his fold.
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