Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ovwian Ward 7, Udu Local Government Area of Delta State have issued a stern warning to their members, urging them to resist any attempts to lure them into joining the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The warning came during a meeting held at the Ovwian Community's town hall, where party leaders called on members to remain loyal to the PDP and work collectively to reclaim what they described as their "stolen mandate" from local government to the presidency.

Former PDP Ward 7 leader, Odjeku Matthew Uparan, expressed concern that some individuals who were brought into the party were now attempting to deceive members. He reassured party faithful that the leadership would not betray the trust and confidence placed in them.

"There's no other party apart from the PDP in Ovwian Ward 7," Uparan stated emphatically. "Nobody should deceive you to join APC. Stay in PDP and work for the party. If the APC comes to you, tell them to stay in their APC and let's stay in our PDP."

Another party chieftain, Lawson A. Oghoifo, claimed that those who had defected to the APC were individuals who had previously caused problems within the PDP. He suggested that their departure had actually brought freedom to the party, describing it as a cause for celebration.

Oghoifo emphasized that PDP leaders have no intention of abandoning the party, using a local expression to make his point: "Na who thief nai dey run. We nor thief. So, we cannot leave PDP." This translates to "Only thieves run away. We are not thieves, so we cannot leave the PDP."

The meeting appears to be part of the PDP's early preparations for the 2027 general elections, as the party seeks to consolidate its base in Delta State while preventing member defections to the ruling APC at the federal level.

Delta State remains one of the PDP's strongholds in Nigeria, and maintaining party unity at the grassroots level will be crucial for its performance in future elections.