The Delta State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has threatened a lawsuit against the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over what they described as the hijacking of the state party secretariat.
It said the secretariat is at present being “illegally occupied” by Chief Solomon Areyinka, the Delta State Chairman of the APC.
Delta State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Kingsley Akpos Oturubo, in a statement, said that the secretariat was acquired in the name of the PDP with all documents bearing the party’s name.
Oturubo hinted that the party’s secretariat was built long before the APC became a political party in the state, even before Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and others defected from the PDP to APC.
He noted that currently, the Delta State Chapter of the APC has two State Secretariats: One at Anwai Road, which is their State Office, while Areyinka, through the alleged aid of the Delta State Government, has illegally taken over the PDP Secretariat located at WAEC Road, Off Mariam Babangida Way, Asaba and adorned it with APC colours and flags.
He wondered why the APC would hold on to the PDP secretariat and have two secretariats in a state after their defection as well as still operating the party’s bank accounts.
The statement said: “Chief Solomon Areyinka should know that he is now a member of the APC. The PDP Secretariat and all the assets of the Party did not defect with him to the APC. The Delta State Government that aided this illegal and unconstitutional occupation of the PDP property should know that the documents to that property are bearing PDP’s name and not the APC.
“There’s no evidence whatsoever that the Certificate of Occupancy has been revoked by the Government. And even if such a thing happened which we have not been informed, there’s no evidence showing that APC has acquired that property. Assuming but not conceding that the APC has acquired the PDP Secretariat, there would have been no reason why the APC is still maintaining its Secretariat at Anwai Road in Asaba up till this moment.”
The PDP urged Chief Areyinka to vacate the party secretariat for the current PDP Chairman, Dr. Peter Mrakpor (SAN), who was a former Attorney-General in the state, vowing to explore every legal avenue to reclaim the property.
It said: “We’re not unaware that the State Government aided Areyinka to carry out this illegal occupation of the PDP Secretariat simply because of our National Leader, His Excellency, Chief Nyesome Wike’s pledged to reclaim our mandate through the ballot come 2027. The State Government is doing everything possible to dismantle the structures connected to the PDP National Leader.”
The PDP also accused the Delta State Government of “trying to use the Government’s instrument to intimidate” the opposition, thus creating discord between the PDP and the APC.
It said: “It is an invitation to anarchy. Nigerians and all security agencies should note this provocative action of the Delta State Government and the State APC Chairman.
“If there’s any break down of law and order in the State in respect of the illegal occupation of the PDP Secretariat by the APC then Chief Solomon Areyinka and the State Government should be held responsible.
“While we appeal to the PDP faithful across the State to remain calm and law abiding in the face of the provocation, we want to send a strong note of warning to Solomon Areyinka and his irks to desist from their provocative action that can lead to break down of law and order in the State.
“Several parties exist within the Delta State and there has not been any time defecting individuals or group of people exuded the right to take the laws into their hands by handing property belonging to party A to party B.
“This provocative action of the State Government is a clear sign that it wants to foist on Deltans with a one party system in the State by trying to silence the voice of the likely opposition Party. One party system is impossible in Delta State. The ruling Party and its government should be ready to entertain constructive criticism from the opposition PDP.
“Not only did the PDP State Secretariat has been illegally occupied, some of these persons who have decamped to the APC since April 2025 are still using the PDP bank accounts. We have already detailed the relevant anti-graft agencies to apprehend these fraudsters and make them to cough out all that they have pilfered away from our treasury.
“The Delta State Chapter of the PDP under the able leadership of Dr. Peter Mrakpor, SAN has been strongly repositioned to reclaim our mandates at all levels. We know that those who ran away with our mandates have been jittery since the inauguration of Mrakpor’s-led State Executive Committee of the PDP.
“These political merchants in spite of the goodwill of the PDP went to get a political cover in another political platform with the mandates freely given to them by the people of Delta State through our Party while still shamelessly holding sway over the property of the PDP in their possession.
“We’re happy that the same Deltans who have the mandates are still with us at the grassroot. Deltans are hungry to return the mandates back to the PDP, the Party they have confidence in to execute social contract since 1999.”
