Revealed: Why Delta Governor Oborevwori abandoned PDP for APC

Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori

The defection of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and the entire Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) structure in the state to the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Wednesday, has been attributed to many factors.

This ended the PDP’s 26-year dominance in the oil-rich South-south state.

The defection, announced by pioneer PDP state chairman, James Manager, after a meeting with key stakeholders at the Government House in Asaba, included the Governor, Deputy Governor, Speaker, former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, and National Assembly members.

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

Local political challenges also drove Oborevwori’s decision. His strained relationship with former Governor, James Ibori, who opposed him in the 2022 PDP primary, posed a significant threat, especially given Ibori’s ties to President Bola Tinubu.

The influence of Tinubu’s allies, like Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), and the death of Ijaw leader, Edwin Clark, further weakened Oborevwori’s position.

The PDP’s declining popularity, evident in its 2023 election losses in Delta, including the presidential vote to the Labour Party, compounded these issues.

Additionally, Okowa’s ongoing EFCC investigation may have incentivized the defection, 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.