……Defection from the PDP to APC was not a spur-of-the-moment decision – Ned
By Fatima Saka
Heavy-duty vehicles have long been a menace on Nigerian roads. Between 2015 and 2018, they were responsible for 3,200 fatalities and over ₦39 billion in economic losses. Yet, despite these tragedies, how much longer must the public endure before decisive action is taken? We cannot continue losing lives to preventable crashes, Senator Ned Nwoko stressed.
During plenary on Tuesday, February 11, the Senator who is representing Delta North Senatorial District and a Chairman Senate Committee on Oil Theft introduced a bill seeking to ban the daytime movement of articulated lorries, tankers, and trailers nationwide. If passed, the bill would restrict their operations to 12 midnight – 6:00 am, except in emergencies.
This was conveyed through a press statement signed by Juliet Ify Ugah, Media Assistant to Senator Ned Munir Nwoko of the Delta North Senatorial District, on Saturday in Abuja.
Beyond restricting movement, the bill also proposes the establishment of Truck Transit Parks—dedicated rest areas where truck drivers can park safely, rest adequately, and continue their journey without obstructing highways.
Senator Nwoko emphasized that these facilities would help prevent reckless driving caused by fatigue and reduce road obstructions that frequently lead to fatal accidents.
“It’s time to support measures that protect our communities and save lives,” he stated. “It’s time to support this bill and ensure safer roads for all Nigerians.”
Senator Ned Nwoko’s Defection: A Matter of Principle
Senator Ned Nwoko’s defection from the PDP to the APC was not a spur-of-the-moment decision—it was a long-anticipated shift dictated by principle. If anything, his patience in remaining with the PDP for as long as he did speaks volumes.
“You cannot send someone into battle, tie their hands behind their back, and still expect them to succeed. If that happens, it only proves that failure was the plan all along,” he remarked. “This is precisely how the PDP in Delta State treated me.”
His victory in the 2023 senatorial election under the PDP was never intended to be an opportunity—it was a political trap, a calculated effort to keep him constrained. Yet, despite the roadblocks, he worked tirelessly to transform what was meant as a hindrance into an avenue for progress. Unlike some of his predecessors who prioritized personal gain, he made it clear from the start that he was not in office to become a contractor—he was there to serve.
This commitment to genuine service clashed with the interests of those who sought to control him. He was denied the right to nominate candidates for party and local government positions, excluded from PDP caucus meetings, and, when occasionally invited, his contributions were deliberately disregarded.
One of the most significant setbacks was the Delta State government’s refusal to support critical projects that aligned with his electoral promises.
The Okpai Independent Power Plant (IPP): A project meant to provide a 100-megawatt step-down for Delta North, but it faced persistent roadblocks due to financial constraints. Despite Senator Nwoko’s efforts with the Minister of Power and the Transmission Company of Nigeria, funding remained an issue. When he turned to the Delta State government for support, his request was flatly declined.
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The Ogwashi-Uku Dam Project: Designed to provide water to over 60 communities, this initiative required state government intervention in its distribution phase. Despite repeated efforts with the Minister of Water Resources and the Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority, progress stalled due to a lack of cooperation from the Delta State government.
Even his Anioma State creation initiative was met with indifference from the state government and its allies.
At some point, it became evident that he was fighting against a system determined to undermine him. From local government chairmen openly disrespecting him to supposed political allies turning their backs, it was clear that remaining in the PDP meant accepting continued sabotage.
By 2025, the reality had set in—his vision for his constituency could no longer thrive within a party that actively worked against him. It was a difficult decision, but one that had to be made.
With a heavy heart, he informed his people at his country home that he was leaving the PDP—a party he had helped build—because it had failed to uphold the values of true representation and progress.
