UGHELLI – In a well attended enlarged meeting held on the 1st of May in Ughelli, members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ughelli North sent a resounding message to those who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) alongside Governor Sheriff Oborevwori. The loyal members made it categorically clear that they remain firm in their commitment to the PDP and have not seen any genuine reason to abandon the party that gave them their political identity.
The meeting, which drew party faithful in large numbers, served as a powerful reminder that Ughelli North PDP is not a pushover. Members unanimously agreed that their loyalty is to the People’s Democratic Party and not to any individual, irrespective of the office they occupy. They expressed their unflinching support for the PDP’s ideals and collective interest above personal ambitions.
Speaking at the gathering, several leaders emphasized that the governor only holds authority over his appointees, not over the entirety of the party’s membership. “We are not his puppets,” one leader declared. “We refuse to be controlled or manipulated into decisions that neither favor us nor our constituents.”
Members voiced their dissatisfaction with the pace and impact of development under the present administration, questioning the rationale behind following a leadership that, in their view, has done little to improve the welfare of the people in Ughelli North. “Why should we follow a leader whose government’s presence we have not felt?” another member queried passionately.
They further stressed that party politics should be driven by principles, loyalty, and a commitment to the people, not by opportunistic defections. The meeting’s participants noted that while some individuals may have traded loyalty for personal gains, true party men and women will always stand by the platform that nurtured them.
The Ughelli North PDP members also used the opportunity to call on the party’s national leadership to recognize and support loyal members who have continued to uphold the party’s values, even in the face of political intimidation and maneuvering. They vowed to keep the flag of the PDP flying high in Delta State, particularly in Ughelli North.
The party members reaffirmed their unwavering loyalty to the PDP and expressed confidence in the party’s ability to reclaim its rightful place in the political affairs of Delta State. They warned defectors to remember that the strength of a party lies not in the defection of a few, but in the resilience and unity of its loyal members.