By Elumelu Felix
AKUKU-IGBO/Nigeria: A group of All Progressives Congress (APC) members and supporters from Akuku-Igbo/Atuma Ward 1 in Oshimili North Local Government Area has defected to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), citing alleged neglect and lack of development in their community.
The defectors were received on Sunday by Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, the NDC candidate for Delta North Senatorial District, and Hon. Aaron Udoka Ebenuwa, the party’s Delta North chairman, alongside other party leaders.
Among those who led the group were Chief Oblak Agbabu and Chief Ben Paymaster, who said their decision to leave the APC followed what they described as prolonged marginalisation of Akuku-Igbo despite the community’s past support for the party.
Agbabu questioned the value of continued political loyalty without what he considered meaningful development projects and tangible benefits for residents.
In a symbolic demonstration of their departure, the defectors gathered APC brooms, the party’s emblem, and set them ablaze as they declared an end to their membership.
The NDC delegation also included Hon. Ashinze Charles Obiodogwu, the party’s candidate for Oshimili North Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, and other party executives.
Welcoming the new members, Ochei urged them to participate actively in the NDC and help expand its grassroots presence by engaging other residents and political supporters dissatisfied with their former party.
The former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly said the NDC intended to distinguish itself through candidates he described as committed to performance and responsive representation.
He framed the 2027 senatorial contest as an opportunity to shape the future of younger generations, arguing that the political direction of the district should not be determined by one individual.
Ochei also pledged that, if elected, he would prioritise development and inclusion for Akuku-Igbo, which serves as the headquarters of Oshimili North Local Government Area.
Ebenuwa, in his remarks, assured the defectors that they would be treated as equal members of the party, stressing that party unity and collective commitment would be important to its electoral prospects.
He urged them to remain active and vigilant as the NDC continues its mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The defection adds to the political realignments taking place in Delta North as parties seek to strengthen their local structures ahead of the polls. However, the defectors’ allegations of neglect reflect their stated reasons for leaving the APC and have not been independently assessed against the record of projects delivered in Akuku-Igbo.
