The PDP may be on the verge of losing at least two key states during the 2023 general elections. The People’s Democratic Party would lose the important states for the first time in the history of the party. Even the PDP had better start to prepare itself for the shocking defeat that may happen in the two states which shall be discussed in this article.
The People’s Democratic Party may rely on the widespread popularity and support that it has been enjoying in the two states for so many years. And that reliance may be the first factor that would make the party lose the states. The second thing is that the PDP suffered from some defections in recent times which would contribute to the loss of the states.
The PDP has been ruling Cross Rivers State for at least twenty years now. The party has registered itself in the hearts of the voters in the state. But this might be the time that the All Progressives Congress would take over the affairs of Cross Rivers State. There is no other political party that can stun the PDP if not for the All Progressives Congress.
When the country got back to democracy in 1999, the PDP presented Mr Donald Duke as its governorship candidate. Of course, he emerged and he was also reelected in 2003 for another term of four years. He was in office for eight years after which he handed over to Mr. Liyel Imoke, who was the second PDP governor in Cross Rivers State. Imoke alsp spent a maximum of 8 years in office.
The popularity of the PDP didn’t dwindle at all because Mr. Ben Ayade was elected in 2015 and in 2019 on the PDP platform. He has however parted ways with the PDP. His defection would make the PDP lose the state for the first time. The PDP might have maintained some grips on power, but things would drastically change this time around.
Mr. Ben Ayade had joined the All Progressives Congress (APC). He initially held a closed door meeting with some top leaders of the APC in Calabar. After the election, Mr. Ayade publicly declared his defection to the APC. Later he went to meet the president to present himself that he had truly become an APC member. Mr. Ben Ayade would want to show that he is powerful. Hence, he would lead the APC to claim Cross Rivers State.
The second state is Delta. The state is very crucial to the economy of the country and the PDP has been ruling the state since 1999. The party initially presented Mr James Ibori, who was elected by the good people of Delta. And after Ibori had spent eight years, the PDP presented Mr Emmanuel Uduaghan. He also spent eight years as well.
Mr. Ifeanyi Okowa is currently in office. And he won’t be up for another term at all because the constitution of the country wouldn’t permit him to contest for a third term. Hence, the power of incumbency wouldn’t affect the 2023 governorship election in Delta State. It should be noted that Mr. Ifeanyi Okowa wouldn’t be involved in the poll.
Another factor that can contribute to the loss of Delta State is that the All Progressives Congress currently has two powerful members. The deputy senate president Ovie Omo-Agege would like to prove himself as a powerful politician. He would like to ensure that the APC take over the affairs of the oil rich state. Hence, the PDP would lose Delta State.
9Naija 