By Abel Leonard, Lafia
Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District, has urged Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, to anchor his recent defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on visionary leadership and a commitment to transformative governance.
In a statement issued Thursday by his media consultant, Michael Ogar, Nwoko said the governor’s move from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling APC should be more than a political strategy, as it must deliver real impact and legacy-driven reforms.
“Your courageous defection to the All Progressives Congress marks a landmark moment in Nigeria’s political history,” the senator said.
“This moment is not just about shifting allegiances, it is about the bold possibilities now within reach.”
Nwoko, who chairs the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft, emphasized that the defection comes as the APC is intensifying efforts to amend the constitution and restructure Nigeria’s federating units.
He specifically highlighted the long-standing push for the creation of Anioma and New Delta states, describing them as “overdue corrections of historical imbalances.”
“Let me remind you, this agenda was declared a done deal by the party leadership long before your defection, a testament to the APC’s commitment to ending regional marginalisation,” Nwoko said.
He called on Governor Oborevwori to move beyond political realignment and embrace the core of the APC’s progressive ideology, including full support for the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Your move to the APC must be anchored in vision. Lead the charge for constitutional reform. Leave behind the politics of survival and step into the politics of legacy,” he said.
Nwoko quoted scripture in urging the governor to part ways with the past:
“The past must not be carried into the future. As scripture warns, ‘No one pours new wine into old wineskins.’ Old habits, old politics, and old deals that led to the PDP’s decline in Delta must be left behind.”
The senator reiterated the urgency of creating Anioma State, framing it as both a justice and identity issue for the people of Delta North.
“It will finally give voice and institutional power to the aspirations of a long-marginalised people,” he said.
He further explained that the proposed New Delta State would help address internal disparities within Delta State, empower neglected communities, and stimulate economic growth.
According to Nwoko, the APC now holds enough legislative power to push through the constitutional amendments necessary for the creation of the new states without requiring major concessions from other regions.
“These changes are economic imperatives. Two new states will mean two new engines of development, better infrastructure, greater federal allocation, and real grassroots democracy,” he stated.
Concluding his statement, Nwoko issued a rallying call to the governor:
“Let us move forward, not cautiously, but courageously, with clarity and conviction.”