Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has pledged to deliver 1.4 million Delta votes to President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election after officially dumping the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Oborevwori made the bold promise on Wednesday during the announcement of his defection. He was joined by his deputy, Monday Onyeme, his predecessor and former PDP vice presidential candidate Ifeanyi Okowa, and the full PDP political structure in the state.
A statement from the governor’s press office said Oborevwori’s move is expected to change the political landscape in the South-South region, boosting the APC’s chances in the next election.
Red Also: APC Will Implode Over PDP Defections, 2027 Won’t Be Easy for Tinubu — Wabara
“With Oborevwori now in APC colours, the South-South’s political map tightens, and this new alignment adds roughly 1.4 million Delta votes to President Tinubu’s re-election calculus,” the statement read.
However, political observers are skeptical about the governor’s promise. They point to Delta’s recent voting history, which suggests that delivering 1.4 million Delta votes may not be an easy task.
In the 2023 general elections, Delta State registered over 3.2 million voters, but only about 615,000 valid votes were cast in the presidential election—representing just 19 percent voter turnout. During that election, the PDP secured only 26 percent of the votes despite Ifeanyi Okowa being on the ballot as Atiku Abubakar’s running mate. The APC fared even worse, with just 15 percent, as Labour Party’s Peter Obi swept the state with 56 percent of the votes.
Analysts say that while Oborevwori’s defection might strengthen his personal political standing ahead of his own 2027 reelection bid, achieving 1.4 million Delta votes for Tinubu could be far-fetched given the state’s history of low turnout and strong support for opposition parties.
The APC has traditionally struggled in the South-South, and Delta State was no exception. In 2023, the ruling party managed only 28 percent of the total votes across the six South-South states, slightly ahead of the PDP’s 25 percent, while Labour Party dominated with 42 percent.
Despite these challenges, Governor Oborevwori and his allies remain optimistic. They believe that the new political alignment will energize their base and set the stage for a strong showing in 2027, even as critics warn that banking on 1.4 million Delta votes may be more hopeful than realistic.
