Festus Keyamo, the minister of aviation and aerospace development, says the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lost its “soul” following the defection of political bigwigs in Delta state into the All Progressives Congress.
Keyamo spoke on Monday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
On April 23, Sheriff Oborevwori, governor of Delta, and other PDP bigwigs in the state joined the APC.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Abdullahi Ganduje, national chairman of the APC, and other leaders received Oborevwori and other defectors into the ruling party on Monday in Asaba, the capital of Delta.
Keyamo said Delta state was one of the major funders of the PDP, adding that Oborevwori’s defection is a major boost for the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.
“The PDP knows that they have lost something like their soul. Delta was like the soul of the PDP. Delta was one of the major funders of the PDP; they have lost it,” he said.
“This is one of the major boosts for the APC ahead of 2027, and even beyond, in terms of the growth and development of the party. So, it’s a major political seismic activity that took place today.”
The minister said the defection is also significant for the people of Delta, noting that it would help the state to align with the politics at the centre.
“It’s a win for the people of Delta state first of all and a win for the Nigerian people as a whole,” he said.
“Because it’s always important for a state to align with the politics of the government at the centre. You may say that after politics, then it’s all governance.
“But as human beings, sometimes this division between parties affects governance; so, you have a different party at the state level and another one at the federal level.
“Remember the case of Lagos state when the present president was the governor and you have Obasanjo at the federal level and all the quarrels and court cases back and forth.
“But for my state, Delta state, to be aligned with the centre at this time of major economic transformation going on in the country, it’s a very momentous occasion that took place today.”
The aviation minister also said that President Bola Tinubu’s second term is crucial to complete the reforms he has initiated in governance.
“Every single APC member in Nigeria today should be concentrating on the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu irrespective of whether it affects your personal interest or not because he does need a second term to fully finish up all these reforms,” Keyamo said.
He warned that “it will be tragic for any government to come in 2027 and stop all these reforms,” adding that “this is what has happened in the past when you had all the inchoate policies that were implemented”.
