Nigeria’s opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faced fresh turmoil as Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his predecessor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, officially defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), alongside key political figures across the state.
Oborevwori’s move, announced after a six-hour stakeholder meeting in Asaba, was described as strategic by APC insiders, who revealed that cabinet reshuffles and power-sharing arrangements would soon follow. Oborevwori is expected to secure a second-term bid in 2027 under the APC banner.
In Rivers State, speculation is mounting that suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara may also defect to the APC. A recent secret meeting in London with President Bola Tinubu has fueled these rumors. Critics say the President is allegedly using state instruments to pressure PDP governors into switching allegiance.
In Osun, Honourable Oluwole Oke, a long-serving federal lawmaker, resigned from the PDP, citing marginalisation within the party. He has yet to announce his next political move.
Meanwhile, reactions have poured in from PDP stalwarts. Former Deputy National Chairman, Chief Bode George, slammed the defections, accusing the APC of coercive tactics. He insisted that Delta remains a PDP state and called for Oborevwori’s resignation.
Former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido warned that Nigeria’s democracy is at risk. He accused President Tinubu of instigating the defection spree and predicted that if the PDP collapses, Tinubu’s presidency would suffer most.
“This isn’t about political gain. It’s about the collapse of our democratic institutions,” Lamido stressed. “Destroying PDP means destroying the very foundation of Nigeria’s democracy.”
The national chairman of APGA, Chekwas Okorie, echoed similar concerns, saying the defection trend reveals deepening regional divides ahead of the 2027 elections.
Observers say these events may signal the rise of a political realignment, where ideological debate gives way to regional and ethnic power blocks. While APC now controls much of the South-East, anxiety grows over what these shifts mean for Nigeria’s political balance.
The situation remains fluid as APC and PDP leaders strategize, with more governors rumored to be on the brink of switching sides.
