In a political earthquake that has reshaped Nigeria’s southern political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, his predecessor and former vice-presidential candidate Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, and key Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders have formally defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), effectively ending PDP’s 26-year grip on the state.
The defection, which had been the subject of mounting speculation, was confirmed at a press briefing in Asaba on Wednesday following a high-level meeting of PDP leaders and stakeholders. Flanked by political heavyweights including Senator James Manager, Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, announced the mass migration into the ruling party.
Governor Oborevwori is expected to be officially welcomed into the APC fold at a grand rally in Asaba on Monday, where Vice President Kashim Shettima will be present to receive the decampees.
End of an Era
The coordinated defection marks a turning point in Delta politics, dismantling the PDP’s once-formidable structure and transferring its full machinery to the APC. The move is being interpreted as a strategic alignment ahead of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign.
The governor’s exit comes just days after he, alongside Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno, publicly endorsed President Tinubu’s second-term bid. Oborevwori had previously denied defection rumors, but insiders say the plan was sealed during a closed-door meeting with President Tinubu earlier this year in Lagos.
“This decision is not made lightly,” said Aniagwu. “It stems from extensive consultations with party stakeholders who are deeply concerned about the PDP’s direction at the national level.”
Fractured PDP, Growing APC
The development further reduces the number of PDP governors to just 11, a sharp decline from 2007 when the party controlled 29 states. Delta’s strategic importance and its estimated 1.4 million voters are expected to bolster the APC’s influence in the South-South geopolitical zone.
Senator James Manager, one of the founding members of the PDP in Delta, admitted the party’s national dysfunction influenced the move.
“You cannot remain in a sinking ship,” he said. “This is a collective and inevitable decision given the disarray at the PDP national level and the lack of strategic direction.”
Full Political Realignment
The defection includes the state’s deputy governor, Sir Monday Onyeme; former governor Ifeanyi Okowa; the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor; members of the National Assembly; local council chairmen; and commissioners — a sweeping shift that delivers Delta State wholesale to the APC.
The APC, through its National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka, celebrated the defections, describing it as a major win for the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.
“With the full integration of Delta’s political leadership, we are confident that the APC is stronger than ever in the South-South,” Morka said.
National Implications and Further Defections
In a related development, six-term House of Representatives member, Hon. Oluwole Oke, also resigned from the PDP in Osun State. Though he has yet to announce his next political destination, his departure is being closely watched amid reports of growing support for Tinubu within opposition ranks.
Meanwhile, in Edo State, speculation continues to swirl around Labour Party Senator Neda Imansuen, who is reportedly being courted by APC officials to join the ruling party. Imansuen, chair of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges, is seen as a potential key player in Edo’s political future.
With internal divisions rocking opposition parties and high-profile defections intensifying, the political tide appears to be shifting decisively in favor of the APC ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election.
