The Conference of Professionals in the Peoples Democratic Party (CP-PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of pressuring Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, to defect as part of a wider plan to gain full control of the state’s treasury and natural resources.
According to the CP-PDP, the situation in Delta reflects a broader APC strategy aimed at suppressing dissent, silencing the opposition, and imposing a one-party authoritarian regime that threatens Nigeria’s democratic foundation.
Speaking on behalf of the group, CP-PDP Protem Chairman, Barrister Obinna Nwachukwu, alleged that APC leaders blackmailed Governor Oborevwori into switching allegiance by linking it to halting the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) pursuit of former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
He further claimed that the APC’s demands have expanded to include control over Delta State’s oil assets and the restructuring of the state government to place APC loyalists in key positions.
“There are credible reports that the APC is pushing for total dominance by enforcing what it terms the ‘Lagos Option,’ where defectors are denied tickets in future elections, including 2027,” Nwachukwu stated.
He described the move as an extension of the party’s controversial tactics in Rivers State, now replicated in Delta as part of a broader plan to capture the Niger Delta and exploit its wealth to the detriment of the region’s people and the nation.
“The APC has lost public trust due to years of poor governance. It is now resorting to coercion and manipulation to cling to power,” the CP-PDP said. “These actions are not only undemocratic but dangerous to the future of constitutional rule in Nigeria.”
The group warned that APC’s strategy threatens to unravel the country’s democratic progress, endangering core values like justice, accountability, and the rule of law.
The CP-PDP called on Nigerians to stand up for democracy and reject what it termed “the APC’s dangerous and anti-democratic power grab now unfolding in Delta State.”
