Why I Dumped PDP for APC — Ex-Commissioner Esegbue Declares at Defection Rally
OBETI/Nigeria: Former Commissioner in Delta State, Hon. Leonard Esegbue, has formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing alleged exclusion, misgovernance, and disregard for grassroots development as reasons for his decision.
Speaking before a massive crowd of supporters in his hometown, Obeti in Ukwuani Local Government Area, Esegbue said he left the PDP after years of failed attempts to push for development-oriented policies and youth empowerment initiatives.
“I had a dream to bring industries, create jobs, and support young people to access decent work,” he said. “But PDP leaders were not interested. I offered to help freely, but they shut the door. Instead, they award contracts to themselves and fill leadership positions with mechanics, vulcanizers, and carpenters—people unfit for policy decisions.”
Esegbue said his decision to join the APC was motivated by a desire to align with a party he described as progressive and more open to development ideas. He pledged to speak to President Bola Tinubu and other national leaders on behalf of the people of Ndokwa Nation if necessary, saying he envisions a future where “girls don’t have to resort to prostitution, and boys don’t fall into cybercrime.”
“I have personally given over 500 people direct jobs. What I want is real, productive employment for everyone in our communities,” he added.
Also present at the declaration was Senator Ned Nwoko, who delivered a scathing criticism of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his predecessor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, accusing both of failing to deliver meaningful development despite their long tenures under the PDP.
According to Nwoko, the PDP has outlived its usefulness in Delta State and several of its leaders are already lobbying to defect to the APC. “Your governor and former governor have been knocking on APC’s door,” he told the crowd. “But we’ve told President Tinubu that we don’t want them.”
He accused both men of ignoring critical infrastructure projects, including the Ogwashi-Uku Dam, a proposed dam at Idumuje, and the Okpai Power Plant, all of which he said were key to Delta North’s development. “They always said those are federal projects. But who uses the electricity? It’s our people. They failed to support them because they lacked vision,” he said.
The Senator reaffirmed his commitment to the creation of Anioma State, a proposal he claimed was sidelined for decades by the PDP. He said the APC, under President Tinubu, is now ready to take up the cause with the backing of the National Assembly.
“Being in government is not about doing things for yourself. It’s about doing things for the people—like providing electricity, clean water, and quality roads,” Nwoko declared.
The defection rally signals rising discontent within Delta PDP ranks and intensifies political realignments ahead of future elections in the state.
He told the people to invite their family and friends to join APC because, in his words, “PDP is sinking like a boat about to crash. Now that I’m in APC, I can speak directly to the President for the sake of our people.”
He also shared that the current governor once told him he would not start any new projects in Delta North, only finish the ones started by Okowa. One of those was the high court building in Asaba, which Nwoko said isn’t as important as roads, dams, and power projects.
Marcus Enudi, MacDonald Ogbolu and Moris Olikpete, APC chieftains in the LGA, congratulated Esegbue and his supporters for taking the bold steps in joining progressives family assuring them of equal treatment.
