By Jose Oby 
The Delta State Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, has provided further insight into why the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking on This Morning on TVC, Aniagwu explained that remaining with the PDP, given its internal challenges, would not have been in the best interest of Delta State or its people. He noted that the decision to leave the party was made carefully to avoid leading the state into a political future as uncertain as Zamfara State’s experience.
“Since the beginning of the current democratic era in 1999, the PDP has been dominant in Delta State, achieving significant successes,” Aniagwu said. “Our decision was not because the PDP was weak in Delta — it was still strong. However, developments at the national level showed that the party was faltering.”
He pointed to a key turning point: a meeting of PDP governors in Ibadan where they resolved not to collaborate or merge with others but instead invited others to join them. Aniagwu described this stance as one born out of weakness, especially given the internal crises affecting the party’s key structures.
Drawing a parallel with the 2019 situation in Zamfara State, where the APC lost all its elected positions due to irregularities in its primaries, Aniagwu expressed concern that the PDP’s unresolved issues could result in a similar disaster for Delta State come 2027.
He further explained that the move to the APC was aimed at strengthening cooperation with the Federal Government, under President Bola Tinubu, to ensure Delta’s continued development.
“The current administration has been fair in its developmental efforts toward Delta State. Politics is local, and we can see tangible evidence of support — for instance, the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has visited Delta twice to engage with our people,” Aniagwu said.
He emphasized that the defection was not the decision of the governor alone but a collective resolution by PDP leaders and stakeholders in the state. “In democracy, the majority opinion matters. The people felt that remaining in the PDP posed a risk to their political relevance and the state’s progress,” he said.
Responding to criticism from PDP leaders like Senator Bukola Saraki and Chief Olabode George, Aniagwu advised them to exercise caution, noting that some of them contributed to the party’s current troubles. “Many leaders openly opposed the PDP’s presidential candidate in 2023, deepening divisions within the party,” he recalled.
Despite the criticisms, Aniagwu urged party members and political actors to prioritize unity and work toward electoral success both in Delta and across Nigeria.