Former Niger Delta Affairs Minister, Godsday Orubebe, has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with immediate effect.
Recall that Orubebe came into prominence in 2015 when he attempted to scuttle the collation of results of the presidential election at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja.
Orubebe, who was the PDP agent for the election, accused the then chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, of bias against his party.
Naija News reports that Orubebe forwarded his resignation letter to the PDP National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, at the PDP National Secretariat, Abuja.
The former minister stated that he has notified his ward chairman in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State of his exit from the party.
Orubebe claimed that the current situation in the PDP does not show that the party is ready to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) and win the 2023 presidential election.
He said: “Consequently, I am by this letter intimating you of my total withdrawal from all activities at the Ward, Local, State and National levels of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP).
“I am highly honoured and privileged to have been part of a political party that successfully transformed a pariah nation to one that commanded respect in the comity of nations.
“When we lost the Presidential election in 2015 in bewildering circumstances, to say the least, it was my belief that the party would use the opposition period to re-strategise to take back power at the earliest opportunity.
“However, the present situation in the party does not inspire confidence that the party is ready to regain power in 2023. Against the mood of the nation and in complete disregard for the provisions of the party’s constitution, the party, threw the zoning of the Presidency open, which created a situation that led to the emergence of a Northerner as the party’s Presidential flagbearer, thus making the two topmost positions in the party, after your emergence as the National Chairman, to be occupied by Northerners, contrary to section 7.3(0) of the party’s constitution.
“I salute and commend the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Nyesom Wike for his efforts and gallantry at the primaries. Posterity will be kind to him when the history of the party is written.
“There are lots to be said, but out of respect for the party, I leave some stories untold at this time. My belief in the sanctity of Nigeria is unshaken and I will continually work for her progress and development, even if it is through another route”
The former PDP chieftain, however, did not reveal which party he would be defecting to ahead of the 2023 polls and his future plans in politics.
Meanwhile, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has met with the presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
This is coming days after the Rivers governor met with his Ebonyi State counterpart, David Umahi and amidst the speculation that he might dump the PDP ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Wike has remained mute about his next plans days after losing the Vice Presidential spot to the Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa.
There are claims that Wike might work against the main opposition party after losing the presidential ticket to Atiku Abubakar and also been denied the opportunity to be his running mate in the 2023 presidential election.
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