By SCM Reporter
In a major political realignment ahead of the upcoming general elections, the former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, CFR, and the former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, have officially dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The high-profile defections were confirmed in a statement on Friday by the National Chairman of the NDC, Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa (HSD), who warmly received the political heavyweights into the party’s fold.
In a swift move that has sent shockwaves through the political landscape of Delta State and the wider South-South region, the NDC leadership has also granted automatic waivers to both political titans.
The waiver clears the path for Omo-Agege and Ochei to participate in the party’s crucial senatorial primary elections scheduled to hold tomorrow across their respective senatorial districts.
Expressing his delight over the development, the NDC National Chairman stated that the entry of the two leaders followed extensive, quiet diplomacy and high-level engagements behind the scenes.
”It was a pleasure to warmly receive Distinguished Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, CFR, former Deputy Senate President, into our great party, alongside Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly,” the statement read.
”I am also pleased to announce that the NDC has not only received them warmly but has equally granted them waivers to contest in the senatorial primaries in their respective districts tomorrow. I wish them both the very best of luck.”
The Chairman further revealed that their defection was not an overnight occurrence but the climax of deliberate strategic planning.
“This development is the result of several weeks of consultations aimed at strengthening the foundations of our party in the South-South region and across the country,” he added, urging all party faithful to accord the new entrants the maximum cooperation needed to ensure victory at the polls.
This sudden political migration marks a significant turning point in Delta State politics, where both Omo-Agege and Ochei have long been structural pillars of the opposition APC.
Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, who served as the Deputy Senate President in the 9th National Assembly (2019–2023) and was the APC governorship candidate in the 2023 elections, commands a massive followership, particularly in the Delta Central Senatorial District.
His political machinery, popularly known as the Orogun Network, has been an influential force in the state’s politics for over a decade.
On his part, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei brings a formidable political asset from Delta North.
As a former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly and former Executive Director of Maritime Labour and Maritime Safety Services at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Ochei’s grassroots mobilization capability remains highly respected across the state.
Political analysts note that the APC in Delta State has been rocked by internal friction and leadership tussles following the aftermath of the 2023 general elections.
The exit of Omo-Agege and Ochei is widely seen as a fatal blow to the APC’s desire to capture the oil-rich state, effectively tilting the balance of power back to the NDC.
The decision of the NDC leadership to grant an immediate waiver just 24 hours before the primary elections underscores the party’s pragmatic approach to capturing power. Under typical party guidelines, new members must wait a specific period before being allowed to run for office.
However, by bypassing this rule, the NDC has positioned itself to field two of the most popular and experienced politicians in Delta State for the upper legislative chamber.
With the senatorial primaries taking place tomorrow, all eyes will be on Delta Central and Delta North to see how the existing party stakeholders react to the sudden entry of these juggernauts into the race. What is certain, however, is that the political map of Delta State has been radically redrawn.