In a dramatic political twist, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has officially dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined the All Progressives Congress (APC). The move, which ended the PDP’s 26-year grip on the oil-rich South-South state, was confirmed on Wednesday after a high-level meeting with top political figures at the Government House in Asaba.
The announcement was made by James Manager, the pioneer state chairman of the PDP, who said the decision followed months of consultations and internal disagreements within the party.
“This wasn’t a sudden move,” Mr Manager told reporters. “We’ve had several meetings and tough discussions. But in the end, we all agreed it was time to chart a new course.”
Present at the meeting were several key players in Delta politics, including the governor, his deputy, the speaker of the state assembly, former governors, National Assembly members, and other top PDP stakeholders.
Why Oborevwori Left the PDP
According to Mr Manager, one of the main reasons behind the defection was the ongoing leadership crisis rocking the PDP at the national level. He cited recent decisions, such as the PDP Governors’ Forum ruling out any coalition ahead of the 2027 elections, as signs that the party is not ready to take on the ruling APC in future contests.
“How can a party with only 11 governors face an incumbent president and expect to win?” he asked. “We saw what happened in 2015 when we lost power due to a merger. The PDP is repeating the same mistakes.”
Another reason, he hinted, was the party’s growing instability. “One day, Senator Anyanwu is the national secretary, the next day it’s someone else. The PDP is no longer the party we once knew.”
Local Politics Also Played a Role
While national issues played a part, local dynamics were equally critical. Governor Oborevwori has faced ongoing political pressure from within Delta State itself. One key source of tension is his strained relationship with former governor James Ibori, a powerful PDP figure who has refused to back him since the 2022 primaries.
Oborevwori’s victory in the governorship race, despite Ibori’s opposition, has left a rift in the party. With Ibori now closely aligned with President Bola Tinubu and influential figures like Tompolo backing the APC, Oborevwori found himself politically isolated.
Adding to his woes, the death of Ijaw leader Edwin Clark — a key ally — left a vacuum in his support base. Meanwhile, the PDP in Delta has suffered major losses, including defections by top leaders like Senator Ned Nwoko, who has been gaining influence in the Anioma zone since former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa stepped down in 2023.
There are also murmurs that Okowa’s ongoing investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) may have played a part in pushing PDP leaders to realign with the ruling APC for self-preservation.
Read Also: Tinubu Orders Immediate Overhaul of Security Strategy, Says ‘Enough is Enough’
PDP’s Decline in Delta
Perhaps the biggest signal that change was inevitable came during the 2023 general elections. Despite Delta being a PDP stronghold, the party lost the presidential vote to the Labour Party. Even with Governor Okowa on the PDP ticket as Atiku Abubakar’s running mate, the party only managed 26% of the vote, compared to the Labour Party’s 55%.
The PDP also lost two of the state’s three Senate seats to the APC, although it won the governorship and most House of Representatives seats.
For Oborevwori, the writing was on the wall.
Surrounded by rivals and watching his party lose its stronghold, the governor saw joining the APC not just as a political move, but a survival strategy.
Delta Governor’s defection to APC may not sound shocking anymore, but it marks a major shift in Nigerian politics, especially in a state long seen as a PDP fortress. While the APC may not yet be more popular in Delta, it now holds the key to federal support and protection from political enemies.
APC Welcomes the Governor
Senator Ned Nwoko said the APC in Delta is ready to welcome Oborevwori and work together to move the state forward. “This is a fresh start,” he said. “We are united in our goal to build a stronger Delta.”
With Governor Oborevwori now officially in the APC, the political landscape in Delta is changing fast — and it’s clear that the PDP will need a serious reset if it hopes to regain its former glory.
