Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The announcement was made on Wednesday following a closed-door meeting at the Government House in Asaba. Governor Oborevwori’s Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, confirmed the decision, stating that it was reached after “wide consultations with political stakeholders and in the interest of Delta’s long-term development.”
Oborevwori, who emerged victorious in the 2023 gubernatorial election under the PDP platform, was received by senior APC officials in what political analysts are already describing as a strategic realignment with significant implications ahead of the 2027 general elections.
This move comes amid a wave of defections from the PDP to the APC in Delta State, with over 5,000 members, including prominent figures such as Senator Ned Nwoko and Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, recently leaving the party. These defections have been linked to internal disputes and accusations of authoritarian leadership within the PDP. In response to these developments, the PDP Delta State chapter convened an emergency meeting to address the crisis and summoned political aides to the governor for discussions.
Governor Oborevwori had previously dismissed rumors of his defection as baseless and a distraction, reaffirming his loyalty to the PDP. However, the recent developments indicate a significant shift in the political landscape of Delta State.
The full implications of this defection are yet to unfold, but it is expected to have a profound impact on the political dynamics in Delta State and beyond as the 2027 general elections approach.