Delta 2023: Nwaoboshi Eyes Deputy Governor Seat With Omo-Agege Joint Ticket

More facts have emerged to why Senator Peter Nwaoboshi dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a party in which he was among the founding fathers and a pioneer secretary and two-time chairman in Delta State.

BIGPENNGR understands Nwaoboshi had long perfected his defection to the APC prior to his first salvo at Governor Ifeanyi Okowa which became public acknowledge after he granted an online TV an interview.

Pundits say the seething attacks on Governor Okowa-led administration were orchestrated plots to push his defection to perfect his ambition of running for the deputy governor of Delta State in 2023.

Nwaoboshi, a protégé of Chief James Ibori, is rumoured to having ambition to run with Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege who has kept his intention to contest the 2023 governorship wrapped.

Nwaoboshi announced his defection when he met with President Buhari at Aso Villa on Friday.

The lawmaker was said to have been accompanied on the visit by Omo-Agege, who hails from Delta Central and is said to be eyeing the governorship seat.

Nwaoboshi’s defection is coming two days after the state PDP suspended him from the party for one month over anti-party activities.

According to the PDP, the action became necessary against the backdrop of the recent “romance with an opposition party, APC, verbal recklessness and unprovoked utterances of Nwaoboshi which the state PDP Working Committee views strongly as totally unacceptable and disturbing.”

The lawmaker was also said to have been embroiled in verbal attacks against Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, whom he succeeded at the Senate in 2015.

Nwaoboshi had recently rated Okowa’s government as poorly performing compared to his predecessors, James Ibori and Emmanuel Uduaghan.

Meanwhile, Okowa on Thursday replied to the lawmaker, who he described as “a stranger”. The governor said Nwaoboshi should not be pitching him with his predecessors.

Reacting to his defection, the PDP in Delta State dismissed the claims that Nwaoboshi defected as he had already been suspended.

The party, in a statement signed by its state Publicity Secretary, Dr Ifeanyi Osuoza, said, “We wish to state for the avoidance of doubt that Senator Peter Nwaoboshi had already been duly suspended by the state Working Committee of our party following his recent romance with an opposition party, his verbal recklessness, and unprovoked utterances against the person of His Excellency, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, the Governor of Delta State.

“Those unbecoming attitude of the senator exposed him as indecorous and lacking discipline which the PDP cherishes so much. The party had to quickly rise to the occasion by treating him like a mad cow in the china shop and manage his exit through suspension so as to save the soul of the PDP in the State.

“His inevitable exit, therefore, has left a wave of joy in the party as faithful and loyal party members see the move as good riddance to bad rubbish.”

(…with PUNCH report)