The Delta State Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, has explained the reasons behind Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the move as a “necessary adjustment to the changing political climate.”
Speaking during an interview on TVC’s Politics Tonight on Friday, Aniagwu said the governor’s decision to leave the PDP earlier this year was strategic and rooted in a “clear understanding of where the state’s interests would be better served.”
“We noticed a change in the taste of the palm wine, and it became necessary to adjust our drinking pattern,” Aniagwu said metaphorically. “That was what we did, taking a look at what was happening in the PDP. From what we have seen since that time, our governor saw tomorrow.”
The commissioner added that since the governor joined the APC in April, Delta State had received greater attention and support from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
“Even while we were in the PDP, there was love,” Aniagwu said. “But becoming a member of the same family has brought a whole new level of partnership and progress. Politics, after all, is local and if this new political alignment benefits our people, it is the right step.”
Aniagwu addressed reports of internal tension within the APC in Delta State following the governor’s entry into the party. He acknowledged that merging old APC members with new entrants from the PDP naturally created differing interests, but insisted that the administration had worked to harmonize all sides.
“You don’t expect that the moment you move in, everybody will be on the same page,” he said. “But what the governor has done since April 28 is to manage these interests and bring a lot of people together.”
He dismissed claims made by some APC stakeholders that the governor’s camp was sidelining older party members, saying that political disagreements were normal in a democracy.
“That someone comes on TV to express grievances does not mean he is bitter,” Aniagwu said. “Democracy offers everyone the right to speak. What matters is that, at the end of the day, we all move in one direction.”
Responding to allegations of “kangaroo suspensions” of party officials in some local governments, including Ughelli North and Ethiope West, Aniagwu denied any high-handedness, saying party members acted within their rights.
“If a local government party chairman is not doing what he is supposed to do, the people in that local government have the power to act,” he explained. “That does not mean the governor is interfering. The processes of the party must be respected.”
Aniagwu praised Governor Oborevwori’s performance since taking office, noting that the governor had further intensified his development agenda after joining the APC.
Read also:
- Gov. Oborevwori hails banking czar Jim Ovia at 74
- Oborevwori urges Executive–Legislative synergy to rebuild Nigeria’s automotive industry
- Security aides of Gov. Oborevwori’s wife brutalizes journalist
He cited the recent approval of a ₦59 billion flyover project at Uromi Junction in Agbor, and over N39 billion flyover at Otovwodo Junction in Ughelli both awarded to construction giant Julius Berger, as evidence of the administration’s commitment to infrastructure development.
“From day one, Oborevwori has maintained his speed in making Delta a more livable state,” Aniagwu said. “He has not looked back; instead, he increases the momentum every day.”
The commissioner said the state APC remained united in its goal of delivering votes for President Tinubu and ensuring the governor’s continued success in the coming 2027 general elections.
“We are now all children of one parent—the APC,” Aniagwu said. “There will always be different interests, but what matters is consensus. Politics is not about uniformity; it is about collective progress.”
Aniagwu concluded by emphasizing that the governor’s move to the APC had repositioned Delta politically and strengthened the state’s bond with the federal government.
“The governor’s decision was not about personal gain,” he said. “It was about ensuring Delta State continues to grow and benefit from national opportunities. And so far, the results speak for themselves.”
