'Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja
DAILY COURIER - Former PDP lawmaker Hon. Nicholas Ossai has officially declared his allegiance to the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as his long-time political role model and the inspiration behind his decision.
Speaking at the APC national headquarters today in Abuja, Ossai reflected on his political journey, revealing that he had been following Tinubu since the days of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
"My role model, Asiwaju Tinubu, is now the President of the country. I have been following him since the SDP era when he was our leader in Lagos. I waited for him to contest, and today he is the President. I am happy with the initiatives he has introduced to put this country on a solid foundation," he said.
Ossai did not hold back in his criticism of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), describing it as a party in crisis.
"The umbrella has broken, and the center cannot hold. You don’t play party politics when the head is sick. That is why I have come to be part of the APC team, which is already shaping Nigeria," he stated.
He commended the APC-led government for its focus on agriculture, highlighting the recent efforts by governors in the sector as a step in the right direction.
"I am happy with what APC governors are doing in agriculture. Today, food prices are coming down, and that is progress," he noted.
Hon. Ossai expressed his commitment to ensuring APC’s dominance in Delta State, particularly in his constituency, ahead of the 2027 elections.
"I am going to work with the APC leadership at the grassroots to make sure APC takes over Delta State in 2027. To start with, APC will take over the House of Assembly in my local government, and by God's grace, I will ensure that APC takes over my federal constituency, where I have spent 12 years," he declared.
Discussing political ideology, Ossai pointed out that most parties in Nigeria operate on a centralist ideology, which often sees politicians rallying around strong leaders. He drew a comparison with the American political system, where dominant parties emerge at different periods in history.
"In the over 300 years of American democracy, political parties have evolved. Sometimes, one political party becomes dominant, just as we are seeing in Nigeria today with APC," he explained.
Ossai also referenced his past investigations into Nigeria’s public agencies, stating that under previous governments, the country resorted to borrowing money to pay salaries. He praised Tinubu for shifting the country's economic direction.
"I have investigated 850 agencies in this country, and I know what was lacking. We used to borrow money just to pay salaries. Is that happening today? No! Because we have a leader who has emerged to shift the nation’s direction," he asserted.
The former PDP lawmaker also recalled his critical stance against past administrations, particularly during the tenure of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
"During Jonathan’s time, I was one of the most critical voices against his government. People even questioned if I was truly a PDP member. But I have always been for Nigeria, not for a political party. Now, I have seen a leader in Tinubu who is defining governance the right way, and I am here to support him and APC," he concluded.
With his defection, Ossai has joined the ranks of political figures realigning ahead of the 2027 elections, reinforcing APC’s growing influence in Delta State and beyond.
