Asaba, Nigeria – In a sweeping political realignment, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, his predecessor Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, and a host of top-ranking members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have formally defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), signaling a dramatic shift in the state’s political trajectory.
The announcement came Wednesday following a high-level stakeholders meeting at the Government House in Asaba, where party leaders, lawmakers, commissioners, and local government chairmen gathered to finalize what insiders described as a long-anticipated move.
Addressing reporters after the closed-door meeting, Delta State Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, explained that the decision was anchored in the evolving political and developmental needs of the state.
“Our Governor and leaders have been consulting widely,” Aniagwu stated. “After months of reflection, we’ve concluded that aligning with the APC offers a clearer path to advancing the goals and aspirations of Deltans. The political climate has changed — and so must our response.”
The defection, described as both strategic and symbolic, ends a decades-long loyalty to the PDP and introduces new uncertainties ahead of the 2027 elections.
Veteran politician and former Senator for Delta South, James Manager, echoed the sentiment, saying the decision was deeply personal but ultimately necessary. “This is a painful but inevitable parting,” Manager noted. “I have given my all to the PDP, but we cannot ignore the cracks that have appeared. When a ship is sinking, you don’t stay onboard out of sentiment.”
The meeting was attended by an influential cast of political figures, including Delta State Deputy Governor Sir Monday Onyeme, Speaker of the State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, and numerous federal and state lawmakers.
This mass exodus marks the first time since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999 that a sitting governor and a former governor of Delta State have jointly crossed over to a rival party, effectively ending the PDP’s 26-year dominance in the state.
Analysts say the move reshapes the political equation in the South-South and sets the stage for a fierce battle in 2027 as Delta State enters uncharted political territory.
