The Peoples Democratic Party has directed its national legal adviser to initiate legal proceedings to reclaim the party’s mandate from Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for defecting to the All Progressives Congress.

Others whose mandates are also to be reclaimed are lawmakers and other elected officials who recently defected along with Mr Oborevwori to the ruling APC.

The party’s acting national chairman, Umar Damagum, made the announcement on Tuesday during a press briefing following the National Working Committee meeting held in Abuja.

Mr Damagum disclosed that the NWC had also mandated the Emmanuel Ogidi-led South-South zonal caretaker committee to assume control of the party structure in Delta, pending the constitution of a state caretaker committee.

Mr Oborevwori, former vice-presidential candidate Ifeanyi Okowa, and several elected PDP officials in Delta announced their defection to the APC on April 25.

“We have instructed the zonal caretaker committee to take charge of Delta after dissolving all existing structures, as most of their members have defected,” Mr Damagum stated. “A caretaker committee will be constituted shortly. We’ve also directed the National Legal Adviser to initiate legal steps to recover our mandates. According to the Electoral Act, any elected official who defects automatically relinquishes the office they occupy.”

Mr Damagum further announced that the NWC had approved zonal congresses for the South-West, North-East, and South-East regions.

He additionally announced that a caretaker committee had been approved for the North Central zone pending upcoming elections. He said the NWC deliberated on a wide range of internal party matters and adopted key recommendations made by the PDP Governors’ Forum at its recent meeting in Ibadan.

Among the resolutions adopted were the scheduling of the party’s National Executive Committee meeting for May 27 and the national convention from August 28 to 30, subject to NEC approval.

Speaking on the wave of defections, Damagum urged party members not to be discouraged.

“Yes, they (APC) may coerce or intimidate our members into defecting, but we are confident the Nigerian people will respond appropriately when the time comes. It has happened before, and it will happen again,” he said.

He dismissed claims of internal crisis within the NWC, stating, “There is no crisis. If someone wants an excuse to justify their betrayal, they might claim there is a crisis. But the PDP remains intact and will continue to thrive.”

Mr Damagum assured that preparations for the national convention to usher in new executives were underway and stressed the party’s resilience.

“We may face challenges, but we’ve always resolved them internally. No amount of intimidation or mischief can bring this party down. The PDP has survived many attempts in the past—this one is child’s play,” he added.

Mr Ogidi affirmed the zonal committee’s readiness to execute its assignment in Delta.

(NAN)