The Peoples Democratic Party has described mass defection involving Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and party leaders and members in Delta to the All Progressives Congress as painful and disappointing.

Acting PDP national chairman Umar Damagum said this in Abuja at a ceremony to issue a certificate of return to Jude Ezenwafor, the party’s governorship candidate for the Anambra Governorship election.

Mr Damagum described the mass defection as disappointing given the party’s support.

“It is very sad and unfortunate because to me, if there’s any state that should think that way, not Delta, because the party is very magnanimous. I thank God that in their message, they didn’t say that the party did anything wrong to them other than good.

“It’s a decision taken by them, but the pains will be in us not because of anything but because we gave Delta all our support, from the emergence of the governor to his predecessor, who also doubled as our vice-presidential candidate. We least expected this action from them. All the same, this is a party that has seen more than that, but it’s still standing,” Mr Damagum said.

Mr Damagum noted that the party leadership was taking stock to set up a caretaker committee for the party in Delta.

“I want to use this opportunity to say we’ll take over our structures immediately,” he added.

Mr Damagum said the election in 2027 would not be about how many governors a party has but about Nigerians. He urged all party members to close ranks and rescue Nigeria, saying no challenge is insurmountable.

(NAN)