The Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, and the entire Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) structure in the state have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The defection, which was announced by pioneer PDP state chairman, James Manager, marks the end of the PDP’s 26-year dominance in the oil-rich South-south state.

Manager cited the PDP’s national leadership crisis and its weakened position with only 11 governors as reasons for the move. “The party’s instability and recent resolutions against coalitions diminished its electoral prospects,” he said.

The defection is attributed to local political challenges, including Oborevwori’s strained relationship with former Governor James Ibori, who opposed him in the 2022 PDP primary. The influence of President Bola Tinubu’s allies, such as Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), and the death of Ijaw leader Edwin Clark, further weakened Oborevwori’s position in the PDP.

The PDP’s declining popularity in Delta State, evident in its 2023 election losses, including the presidential vote to the Labour Party, also contributed to the defection. Additionally, the ongoing EFCC investigation of former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa may have incentivized the move, with hopes of leniency under APC membership.

Senator Ned Nwoko, a recent APC defector, welcomed the new members, promising collaboration. While the APC may not guarantee popularity in Delta, it offers Oborevwori federal government support and protection from local adversaries, securing his political survival amid a turbulent PDP landscape.