Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Umar Damagum has described a mass defection involving Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, other elected and party leaders in Delta to the All Progressives Congress, APC as painful and disappointing.
Damagum made the remark in Abuja at a ceremony for the issuance of Certificate of Return to Mr Jude Ezenwafor, the party governorship candidate for the Anambra Governorship election.
According to him, the mass defection was disappointing given the level of support the party gave to the state in previous elections.
“It is very sad and unfortunate because to me, if there’s any state that should think that way, not Delta, because the party is very magnanimous.
“I thank God that in their message, they didn’t say that the party did anything wrong to them other than good.
“It’s a decision taken by them, but the pains will be in us not because of anything, but because we gave Delta all our support, from the emergence of the governor to his predecessor, who also doubled as our vice presidential candidate.
“We least expected this action from them. All the same, this is a party that have seen more than that, but it’s still standing,” he said.
Damagum noted that the party leadership was taking stock to set up a caretaker committee for the party in the state.
“I want to use this opportunity to say, we’ll take over our structures immediately,” he said.
He said that the election in 2027, would not be about how many governors a party has but it will be about Nigerians.
Damagum urged all party members to close ranks and rescue Nigeria, saying no challenge is insurmountable.He
He congratulated Ezenwafor for emerging as the party’s candidate in Anambra, express confidence of victory in the election.