In a move that has sent shockwaves through the Nigerian political landscape, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his predecessor, former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, have officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The defection was confirmed on Wednesday, April 23, in Asaba, the state capital, after a closed-door meeting that reportedly lasted over six hours at the Delta State Government House. The announcement was made by Senator James Manager, a prominent political figure in the state.
“All PDP members in the state, including the sitting Governor Oborevwori, former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, the Speaker of the House, the state PDP Chairman, all 25 Local Government Chairmen, and several key stakeholders, have resolved to join the APC,” Senator Manager declared.
“We cannot continue to remain in a sinking ship.”
A Collective Political Realignment
The defection marks a dramatic realignment of political power in Delta State, which has long been a stronghold of the PDP. It signals a potentially game-changing shift ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Confirming the move, Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, provided more insight into the motivations behind the mass exodus from the PDP.
“There is a need for us to adjust our political drinking pattern. In doing so, we had to take a bold decision that would secure the continued development of Delta State,” Aniagwu said.
“It became clear that the current state of the PDP no longer aligns with the aspirations of Deltans for growth, peace, and progress.”
Using a metaphor, Aniagwu likened the PDP to “palm wine that has lost its taste,” saying that the time had come to “change the drinking party” for the sake of effective governance and sustained development.
“To protect the legacy we’ve built, to enhance security, advance the welfare of our people, and ensure that the momentum of growth is not truncated, this step was unavoidable,” he added.
Implications and Reactions
The implications of this defection are profound. With the two most recent governors of Delta State and the state’s current political machinery now under the APC, the PDP faces a major vacuum in a state it once dominated.
Observers see this move as part of a larger political strategy to align with the ruling party at the national level, possibly in anticipation of the 2027 presidential elections and future federal-state collaborations.
While reactions have begun pouring in from political commentators and party loyalists, both sides of the aisle are bracing for intense political reconfiguration. There are already murmurs of discontent from PDP loyalists across the South-South, with many questioning the timing and the collective nature of the decision.
As the dust settles, it remains to be seen how this defection will reshape the political trajectory of Delta State and what ripple effects it may have across Nigeria’s wider political spectrum.
