Political Earthquake: Delta PDP, Led by Oborevwori and Okowa, Defects to APC in Historic Move

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In a dramatic shift ahead of the 2027 general elections, Delta State’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), under Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his predecessor, Ifeanyi Okowa, has officially defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The move was formalized at a grand ceremony held at the Cenotaph in Asaba on Monday, where a massive crowd witnessed the Delta political leaders being welcomed into the APC. The event came days after their announcement to abandon the PDP.

Top APC figures, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, and Progressive Governors’ Forum Chairman Hope Uzodimma, received the defectors.

Governor Oborevwori described the decision as historic, stating that the move was driven by the desire to secure the best for Delta State. “This is not just a defection—it’s a movement. After extensive consultations, we recognized President Tinubu’s commitment to Delta and decided to align with progress,” he declared.

He confirmed that all PDP members in the Delta State House of Assembly, local government chairmen, councillors, and party executives were joining the APC.

The collapse of PDP’s 26-year dominance in Delta has sent shockwaves across Nigeria, especially since Okowa was the party’s vice presidential candidate in 2023. Analysts and citizens continue to debate the implications of this defection.

While the PDP expressed surprise, it downplayed concerns over the political fallout. Okowa, speaking at the event, emphasized that the decision was made in the “best interest of the people,” stressing the need to connect Delta to the federal government.

Vice President Shettima hailed the defection as unprecedented, calling it a “political tsunami” that would reshape Nigeria’s political landscape. “This is a monumental shift never before seen in the South-South or the nation’s history,” he declared.