Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District, has disclosed that his departure from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was driven by a lack of support from Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, which hampered his ability to deliver on promises and push for key developmental initiatives.
According to Nwoko, his primary motivation for leaving the PDP was to secure backing for the creation of Anioma State.
He claimed that both Oborevwori and Okowa opposed the proposal and that his attempts to gain support from the PDP national leadership were futile due to internal conflicts within the party.
“I left because I want to be able to get the support of the ruling party in the creation of Anioma state. The governor and Okowa, who are the leaders of PDP, are against the creation of Anioma state.
I sought the support of PDP National, but they have been embroiled in destructive fights and have been unable to show leadership,” Nwoko explained.
Nwoko also accused Governor Oborevwori of obstructing his efforts by rejecting critical projects proposed during the election campaigns, citing financial constraints. He highlighted the Okpai power plant and the Ogwashi-Uku dam as examples of projects that were dismissed.
“The governor made sure that I wasn’t allowed to function. He dismissed all the projects that we had discussed during the campaigns, citing a lack of funds.
I wasn’t allowed to nominate any board members, commissioners, or local government chairmen. I had to join the ruling party so as to be able to attract projects to my constituency. Time is running,” he added.
Nwoko’s defection sparked speculation, with Fred Oghenesivbe, an aide to Governor Oborevwori, suggesting that Nwoko left the PDP out of fear of losing his ticket for the 2027 elections. However, Nwoko refuted these claims, emphasizing that his decision was solely to better serve his constituents and advance developmental initiatives in Delta North.