APC: Sheriff Oborevwori Can’t Just Walk in and Lead Me – Eselemo

The arrival of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori into the All Progressives Congress in Delta State has further divided the party in the state with resistance to the governor assuming the leadership role.

One of the internal oppositions is Prince Collins Eselemo, an old member of the old APC. He reacted strongly to suggestions that former PDP leaders, including Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, should be accepted into the APC without conditions.

He expressed his disagreement when he spoke during an interview with Arise News recently. Eselemo disagreed with the of Olorogun Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation, on the defection of Oborevwori.

Eselemo referred to Keyamo’s recent comments welcoming Sheriff into the APC unconditionally and declaring that wherever Sheriff goes, the party should follow.

The APC chieftain questioned the logic of such a stance, especially coming from someone of Keyamo’s stature as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). He argued that opening the doors of the APC without principles risks eroding the values and sacrifices that formed the foundation of the party.

He emphasized that many grassroots members of the APC—including himself—actively fought for Nigeria’s democracy and should not now be sidelined by political opportunism.

He named civil rights icons like Gani Fawehinmi and Femi Falana as his companions in the the political struggle, asserting that it is disrespectful to suggest that longtime APC members should now submit to leaders who never stood with them during critical democratic battles.

Eselemo maintained that any defection to the APC should come with clearly defined terms that reflect loyalty to the party’s principles and historical context.

Unconditional acceptance, he warned, will not only undermine internal democracy but also alienate those who have been loyal from the beginning.

“We’re not saying that they would not be accepted, but it must be conditional. Like Festus was saying—Festus, who has gone to the citadel of his profession as a Senior Advocate of this country—is telling the whole country that Sheriff can come in unconditional, and that anywhere Sheriff goes, we will follow Sheriff.

What does that mean? That Sheriff wants to lead me, myself, who struggled, who fought for democracy alongside people like Falana and Gani Fawehinmi?” Eselemo queried during the interview.

Midwest Herald reports that the APC national chairman, former governor Abdullahi Ganduje has handed over the leadership of the party in Delta State to the defected governor.