As political campaigns gather momentum in Delta State, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) on Monday received more than 1,000 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), across the nine local government areas of Delta North senatorial district.

The defectors, including chieftains of the party, most of whom are drawn from the Delta Coalition For Equity (DCFE), said they are now ready to work for the victory of the presidential candidate of NDC, Mr Peter Obi, gubernatorial candidate Deacon Yovwaye Chris and others ahead of the 2027 elections.

They argued that they are tired of the workings of APC, which has not considered inclusiveness as a strong cord to achieve results.

Receiving the defectors in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area, on Monday, the state chairman of the party, Dr Oyidobo Richmond, welcomed them and urged them to return to their wards and begin to work for the victories of NDC candidates.

Richmond said the NDC had no competitor in the state, adding that the performance of Peter Obi when he was Governor of Anambra State and his clean records had been attracting more people to NDC.

He said, “I want to welcome you to our great party; this is the party of victory. In NDC, we don’t discriminate. There are no old members; there are no new members. We are all equal; that is why we shall win.

“Also, I want you to go back to your respective wards and local governments to work. It is your capacity in the party that will determine your reward in the NDC. We give everyone equal opportunities. So we must work hard to give him a landslide victory here.”

The defectors from Delta North senatorial district were led to the NDC by a former Convener, DCFE, Chief Alex Ikpeazu, who vowed to ensure that NDC takes over the state.

Ikpeazu, a philanthropist and community leader, hailed the governorship candidate of NDC in the state, Prince Yovwaye Chris, for charting the right political path for Delta State, adding that the state would fare better under NDC, especially as over 1,000 members had resigned from APC to join NDC.

He said, “The people of Delta North have been marginalised, deprived, and oppressed particularly by those who left Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to APC. We are tired of being neglected. The people were just waiting for someone to lead the way, and that time has come.”

Deacon Yovwaye Chris, the governorship candidate, warmly welcomed the defectors to the party. Expressing delight over the defection to his party, he, however, advised them to be humble in order to benefit from whatever dividends would accrue to the party.

He described the defection as a “movement” rather than decamping. “It’s not decamping, it’s a movement. We welcome you with open arms. We thank the DCFE for organising the party’s growth.”

He assured the new members of equal rights and urged them to respect the party’s constitution. “Anybody who comes with interest should drop it,” he advised. “Let’s work together to achieve our goals. Everything anybody wants is through consultation with the leadership of the party.”

He attributed the defection to the Lord’s doing. “It’s a sign of the party’s growing strength,” he said. “The rate of defection to NDC across the country is alarming. It can only be God who is behind this exodus. Imagine APC that people said that it’s a religion, about to move en masse to NDC. It is unbelievable.”

The Senatorial Chairman, Hon Harron Udaka; the APC leader in Delta North, Chief Steve Ikpade; and the Coordinator of 100% Overdo, Nacbeth Ojugbeli, said the large number of defectors to NDC is a significant political development, advising the new members to be humble and align with the party’s structure to ensure continuous growth. (Tribune)