Uduaghan returns to PDP

Former governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, has officially returned to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Uduaghan had left the PDP for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the build-up to the 2015 general elections and contested for the Delta South Senatorial district ticket but lost to incumbent Senator James Manager of the PDP.

Reports last week says Uduaghan decided to return to the PDP after a closed-door meeting with Chief James Ibori, a former governor of the state.

Ibori regaled as the political godfather of Delta politics was said to have met Uduaghan along with Governor Ifeanyi Okowa at the Government House, Asaba as well as in Oghara, the country home of Ibori.

Scores of Uduaghan’s supporters, who are currently at Abigboro, the Itsekiri home of the former governor, are on the ground for the official defection to the PDP.

The ceremony is holding today at Unit 1, Ward 6, Abigborodo, Warri North Local Government Area of the state.

Uduaghan was governor of Delta on the PDP platform for eight years (2007-2015), he was also a Commissioner for Health and later Secretary to the State Government under the administration of former Governor Ibori.

The former governor was said to have had a frosty relationship with his successor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, also a medical doctor, leading to his defection to APC.

He, thereafter, formed an unrewarding alliance with ousted APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole and other chieftains of the party in Delta State even as he made an unsuccessful effort to unite the APC tendencies in the state.

It will be recalled that on 29 August 2018, Dr Uduaghan officially announced his defection to APC, boasting that he was like John the Baptist who was the forerunner of Jesus Christ, a statement interpreted by many to mean his cousin, former Gov Ibori was to follow suit.