By Emeke Alexander
The camp of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Delta State was on Wednesday ruffled by the unveiling of Friday Osanebi as the deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC in the state.
The unveiling of Osanebi by the Delta APC governorship candidate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege coincided with the inauguration of the Delta PDP Peace and Reconciliation Committees for the three senatorial districts in the state.
A statement by the state Publicity Secretary of the party, Dr Ifeanyi Osuoza, named the chairmen of the committees as follows: Delta South, Chief P. Y. Biakpara, Delta North, Chief Edwin Uzor and Delta Central, Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo.
Unlike the announcement of the Delta PDP deputy governorship candidate, Chief Monday Onyeme, that of Osanebi was greeted with a very ‘loud ovation’ as both the mainstream, online and social media were awash with the report just few minutes after Omo-Agege did so, on his official Facebook page, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.
Immediately trailing Osanebi’s unveiling was the question as to, when did he dump the PDP and officially joined the APC?
Investigation by NewsNet Nigeria indicates that Osanebi long ago secretly left the PDP and joined the APC in his ward in Ndokwa East Local Government Area.
The perceived political error according to a dependable source is very difficult for Omo-Agege to make as the current Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate cum lawyer, who played a critical role in the formulation of the nation’s 2022 Electoral Act.
Political pundits say the political rating of Osanebi far outweighs that of Onyeme, particularly in the politics of Ndokwa nation where both come from.
The combination of Osanebi with Senator Peter Nwaboshi, who is seeking a return to the Senate according to them would no doubt pose a serious challenge to the PDP in Delta North Senatorial District of the state.
Osanebi they observed is greatly followed and loved by majority of the youths in Delta North and beyond, especially for his philanthropy within and outside politics.
They also opined that the pair of Omo-Agege and Osanebi should not be taken for granted by the PDP in the state considering the enormous influence Omo-Agege now wields both in the state and national politics.
More worrisome is their prediction that the PDP family in Delta would witness high-profile defection in the coming weeks and months following the choice of Friday Osanebi as running mate to Ovie Omo-Agege coupled with the present discordant tones in the party.
