Senator Ned NwokoNed Nwoko, representing Delta North, is reportedly planning to leave the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a bid to pursue the longstanding goal of creating Anioma State, according to sources.

The Guardian learnt that Nwoko summoned notable PDP members and other stakeholders in the opposition parties across his constituency for a crucial consultative meeting to inform them of his plans to cross over to the running party as one of the conditions offered by the presidency to create Anioma State.

The consultative meeting which lasted hours was held at his country home in Idumuji-kpoko in Aniocha North of the state.

According to the convener and leader of Ugo-Anioma, Victor Sorokwu, who confirmed the development, Nwoko had called for the meeting to solicit their support to dump PDP which was unanimously agreed to by all and sundry who attended the meeting.

Sources said that Nwoko’s plans to leave the PDP for the APC may be linked to his 2027 governorship ambition in the State, but Sorokwu said it was for the Senator to actualise the creation of Anioma State.

The defection move by Ned when perfected, means all the three Delta State Senators in the National Assembly belong to the ruling APC, thereby depleting Delta State, as the stronghold of the PDP since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999.

Former governor James Ibori’s daughter Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, who represents the Ethiope Federal constituency, recently defected from the PDP to the APC.