Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has officially defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a move that has shocked many and significantly impacted the political landscape in the state. This announcement came after months of speculation that the governor might leave the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), although earlier, his Chief Press Secretary, Festus Ahon, had dismissed such rumors as baseless. According to Ahon, given Oborevwori’s popularity in Delta, there was no reason for the governor to abandon the PDP.
Despite these assurances, the rumors continued to spread, with some APC members pushing the narrative further. In January 2025, Delta’s Commissioner for Works and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, further fueled the conversation by stating that Oborevwori was a proud member of the PDP and would not be “jumping ship.” The PDP also dismissed the rumors, calling them politically motivated and assuring the public that the governor would remain with the party.
However, in a surprising turn of events, Governor Oborevwori, along with his commissioners and predecessor Ifeanyi Okowa, defected to the APC, citing ongoing crises within the PDP as a key reason for their decision. Aniagwu explained that the move was necessary to ensure that Delta State remained on the path of development and progress, something they felt would be at risk if they stayed in the PDP.
The defection had been foreshadowed in December 2024 when Governor Oborevwori publicly expressed his support for President Bola Tinubu, stating that the success of his administration was linked to Tinubu’s performance. The governor urged Deltans to support the president, making it clear that his governance could not thrive if the president failed.
This defection represents a significant loss for the PDP, as it sheds its grip on Delta State, a region it has controlled for over 25 years. While the APC celebrates its gains, the move leaves the PDP in a vulnerable position, facing challenges to its political dominance in the state.
