₦airaland Forum

In a political shake-up that ends nearly three decades of dominance by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has officially joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), signaling a major power realignment in the oil-rich South-South region.

The announcement came on Wednesday after a high-level meeting at the Government House in Asaba, where key political figures from across the state gathered to deliberate on the future of the embattled PDP. James Manager, the founding chairman of PDP in Delta, confirmed the decision, describing it as the result of extensive consultations and a unified agreement among the state’s political heavyweights.

Present at the closed-door session were the governor, his deputy, the speaker of the state House of Assembly, former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, and nearly every PDP lawmaker from the state and national levels. “It was not a rushed decision,” Manager said. “We agreed this is the best path forward, given the national crisis within our party and the local realities on ground.”

For months, tension had simmered in the PDP, driven by unresolved leadership battles at the national level and growing dissatisfaction with the party’s strategic direction. A controversial resolution by the PDP Governors’ Forum to avoid forming alliances ahead of future elections particularly shook confidence. With only 11 governors remaining under the PDP’s banner, many insiders saw the decision as political suicide—especially when facing an incumbent president backed by a unified APC.

Manager, once a staunch PDP loyalist, put it bluntly: “You can’t stay on a ship that’s sinking. I’m from the riverine area—I know when to jump off.”

But it’s not just internal party issues that pushed Governor Oborevwori to switch sides. Political turbulence in Delta State itself played a crucial role. A lingering feud with former Governor James Ibori, who lost political control after Oborevwori bested his preferred candidate in the 2022 PDP primaries, has left the current governor isolated. Ibori, still influential and now aligned with President Bola Tinubu, remains a formidable force with deep ties to power brokers like ex-militant leader Government Ekpemupolo, better known as Tompolo.

With the death of elder statesman Edwin Clark, who had served as a counterbalance to Ibori’s clout, Oborevwori has seen his support base dwindle. Realizing he was politically outflanked, the governor opted to align with the APC in a bid to protect his seat and influence.

The fallout from the PDP’s decline has been swift. Senator Ned Nwoko, the party’s only senator from Delta, recently defected to the APC and has since emerged as a rising force in the Anioma region. Meanwhile, the PDP’s former strongman, ex-Governor Okowa, is under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)—another blow to the party’s standing.

While it remains uncertain whether joining the APC will shield Okowa or others from legal scrutiny, what’s clear is that the political landscape in Delta State has changed dramatically. With Oborevwori now firmly in APC territory, the PDP’s grip on one of its last strongholds has officially come to an end.

Delta, once a fortress for the opposition, is now open ground—and the battle for 2027 has already begun.

https://social.phisk.co/blogs/988/Real-reasons-Delta-Governor-Obovrevwori-dumped-PDP-for-APC

Very balanced analysis

Ibori should rest abeg

You can always run back to your village after spending some time in the city.

Sheriff Oborevwori is a great addition to the APC.

Delta state will be better for it.

🤣🤣🤣

Nigeria is fast becoming a one party state just lyk North Korea. For d sake of democracy politicians lyk Tinubu shouldn't have been allowed to be president in the first place

If you don't get it you forget about it

Good news

One and the same

Country of anyhow and anything goes

This article said nothing worth any news.

It's simple. Okowa or Sherrif . Automatically Okowa's sins are forgiven

APC is blackmailing these politicians with EFCC.

Toh PDP don dey lose grip for South South region.

The recent defections from the party is alarming

"high level meeting" which will be 90% hailing each other with their made up titles and shaking hands. Eew Nigerian leadership is so childish and clownish. When you see these politicians having a meeting you'd just know how unserious the whole governing affair is

Salewa97:
Sheriff Oborevwori is a great addition to the APC.

Delta state will be better for it.

The APC wants to steal their money votes and workings. The Bible says the devil comes only to do what? That the APC

Ringstonermasks:
Nigeria is fast becoming a one party state just lyk North Korea. For d sake of democracy politicians lyk Tinubu shouldn't have been allowed to be president in the first place

He was a lone opposition to Obasanjo, Yar’Adua and Goatluck. He never shook nor rested until he became the President. Now tell me, why can’t the fools jumping ship be in opposition for once? Are you now blaming Tinubu for the foolish behaviour of those that are supposed to be opposition?

What happened in kwara seems happening in Delta.This politicians are just looking for sources of income it mustn't stop.

No matter what,I can never vote Tinubu or APC... God 4bid!

Ringstonermasks:
Nigeria is fast becoming a one party state just lyk North Korea. For d sake of democracy politicians lyk Tinubu shouldn't have been allowed to be president in the first place

Better for Nigeria
They should only bring people that have the country's Inyerest at heart..

Another Yamaha blello

It is delta state government officials that defected to APC,not the entire delta state.These defectors consist of less than 10% of registered voters in delta state. Some of the defectors spirit is in PDP,while their bodies are in APC.

Lol.

RoxyBrownAutos:
It is delta state government officials that defected to APC,not the entire delta state.These defectors consist of less than 10% of registered voters in delta state. Some of the defectors spirit is in PDP,while their bodies are in APC.

Dey play