Vice President Kashim Shettima welcomed Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, former governor Ifeanyi Okowa, and other PDP defectors to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Asaba. APC National Chairman Umar stated that more governors would join the ruling party.

The defection of Okowa, Oborevwori, and the entire PDP structure in Delta State, a PDP stronghold, had been anticipated.

Delta Deputy Governor Monday Onyeme, state commissioners, local government chairmen, and grassroots members all joined the APC after a meeting in Asaba last week. The opposition PDP claims this indicates a drift towards a one-party state.

The PDP previously dominated the South-South region. With these defections, the APC now has three governors in the region (Edo, Cross River, and Delta), while Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa are led by PDP governors. The suspension of Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s status remains uncertain.

Political analysts believe that more defections are likely, with Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno already expressing support for President Tinubu’s second term. The PDP caretaker chairman in Bayelsa State, George Turnah, has also stated that the party will support the President, regardless of Governor Douye Diri’s stance.

Speaking in Asaba on Monday, Shettima said history was made in the South-South sub-region following the mass defection of all Delta State PDP members to the ruling APC.

He said, “This is a tsunami of the highest propulsion as all members of the Upper Chamber are in the APC; the governor and his entire cabinet, legislators, local government council chairmen and other stakeholders in the party.

“Since the formation of the party, many predictions have been writing against us, some armchair critics said we couldn’t go anywhere but today history has vindicated us, many people are joining the progressives to move the nation forward.

“So, you are welcome to our party, you are not guests but co-owners of the party. We welcome you not as defectors but as brothers and sisters, not as guests but as family.

“By the APC constitution, the governor is the leader of the party, henceforth, you are to lead the party in the state to greater success.”

On his part, Governor Oborevwori lamented that they had been in opposition for almost 10 years and needed to join the ruling party.

What you have seen here today is a movement, not a defection,” he said. “We have been in opposition for almost 10 years. President Bola Tinubu has shown us love in Delta, so, we want to replicate the love.

“We cannot show love from outside, so we must be inside to show love. I don’t talk, but I believe in action. We have consulted stakeholders at all levels. Mr President has shown us love. We cannot face him in 2027 to work against him. When you consult widely, you can see that love is organic.”

“I don’t believe in Festus Keyamo and Omo-Agege’s factions, I’m the leader of the APC in Delta and everybody must queue,” Oborevwori said.

The governor, who justified moving the entire PDP from the ward level to the state into APC, called on other governors to join the movement.

Ganduje Boasts

In his remarks, the National Chairman of APC, Umar Ganduje, commended the President for providing good leadership in the country.

He also commended the governor and his predecessor, Okowa, for taking bold steps into APC, believing in progress, accountability, openness and transparency of the party.

Ganduje praised other APC governors for their support, adding that with Oborevwori’s defection, the APC now had 22 governors.

“I must thank our 21 executive governors. Now, with this, we have the 22nd governor. Let me tell you, keep your ears and eyes open — more governors will soon join us,” Ganduje stated while handing over the APC flag to Oborevwori.

Also, Okowa described the defection as a right and timely decision on Wednesday last week, saying it’s obviously a great day in Delta state.

Okowa, who served as Delta State governor from 2015 to 2023, explained that the decision was motivated by the need to establish stronger ties with the Federal Government at the centre.

“As I did tell people that day, it was not about me, it was not about the governor, but the fact that there is a need for us to connect to Abuja, that goodwill that is in Abuja, that resource that is in Abuja of which Delta is a large contributor, there is a need to connect to it. I was governor for eight years; I did my best, but we lost a lot, and I did not believe that the governor needed to stay working very hard without tapping into that,” Okowa stated.

“But as the governor is doing a lot for us, he also needs to connect to the greater source of power, resources, and goodwill in Abuja,” the former governor added.

He further described the move as bold, patriotic, and well-intentioned. “When we sat down after the stakeholders meeting, we thought that it was necessary to make this move. The move is bold, it is patriotic, and it is well-intentioned. It is in the best interest of our state.”

Otu Hails Oborevwori

Meanwhile, the Governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Otu, has reaffirmed that the growing wave of defections to the APC is propelled by the sterling performance of President Tinubu, rather than political calculations.

In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Nsa Gill, Governor Otu, who was at the event to formally receive the party’s latest entrants, described Oborevwori’s arrival into the APC as not just a political move but a thoughtful and courageous response to the growing aspirations for a better Delta State, a more prosperous Niger Delta, and a stronger Nigeria.

He said, “Your Excellency’s decision to board the progressive train is a profound testament to your commitment to inclusive governance, sustainable development, and national unity. I am confident that your leadership will further galvanise our collective resolve to deliver the dividends of democracy to our people and drive forward the Renewed Hope Agenda championed by President Bola Tinubu,” Governor Otu stated.

He emphasised that Cross River, which for years stood as the lone APC-governed state in the South-South, now proudly shared the progressive banner with Delta and Edo states, marking a new dawn of strengthened political realignment in the region.

“An increasing number of South-South states under APC governance is a dream realized,” Otu added.

Describing the Delta PDP mass defection as a historic moment, Governor Otu noted that it set the stage for deeper regional collaboration, accelerated economic development, and greater political stability.

As Vice Chairman of the South-South Governors’ Forum, he urged Governor Oborevwori, other political stalwarts, and their supporters who have now joined the APC to bring their wealth of experience and grassroots mobilisation strength to bear in advancing the collective quest for a flourishing South-South and a renewed Nigeria.

Turnah Charges Diri

In Bayelsa, it might not be long before the political hurricane wreak havoc on the structure of the leading opposition party as the state PDP caretaker boss George Turnah, who is the lead convener of the New Associates, a pro-Nyesom Wike group inaugurated in Bayelsa State over the weekend, charged Governor Diri to declare where his loyalty ahead of the 2027 election.

He argued that almost all the governors from South-South supported Tinubu, irrespective of their party affiliations.

He said, “I want to formally call on Governor Douye Diri to immediately announce his stand regarding the 2027 presidency, so that Bayelsans can know where they stand.

“If he is supporting President Tinubu, he should come out and tell us. But if he wants to align with other candidates, let him say so. Then we will know whether to follow him or not. The leader who has openly declared support for President Tinubu is Nyesom Wike. If our governor comes tomorrow and says he supports Tinubu, we will work with him. If he says otherwise, we will galvanize support for Tinubu ourselves.

“In 2019, the Southern Governors met in Asaba and agreed that power should return to the South. Despite that agreement, some decided to act otherwise. But in all, Tinubu from Southern Nigeria became President.”

Turnah added, “Tinubu is not from my party, PDP, but once a leader is elected, he becomes the President of Nigeria, and we must support our leader.

“Opposition is not about plotting for leaders to fail. If a leader succeeds, the people benefit. Opposition should uphold leaders to deliver for the people. If a leader is performing, there should be no rush to remove him. When the time comes, PDP will make its decisions.”

2,004 Join APC In Jigawa

In similar vein, no fewer than 2,004 supporters of the PDP and the New Nigeria Peoples Party defected to the APC in Jigawa State.

Speaking on defection during the sixth Government and Citizens Engagement programme on Sunday at Buji Local Government Area, Governor Umar Namadi welcomed the defectors, expressing delight at the growing support for APC in the state.

“We are happy to welcome our new members to the APC family,” he said.

“This defection is a testament to the good work we are doing in Jigawa State, and we will continue to work towards the development of our state,” added Namadi.

Namadi assured the new APC members of fairness, equity, and inclusivity within the party and promised to carry them along with other members, saying, “Your voices will continue to be heard, respected and valued.

“We will ensure that everyone is treated equally and given the opportunity to contribute to the party’s growth and development.”

“We need your support and good counsel to drive our development agenda forward and together, we can achieve great things and take Jigawa State to new heights,” Namadi emphasized.

Earlier, the defectors, led by Idris Maikura, stated, “We have seen the good work being done by Governor Umar Namadi, and we believe that the APC is the best platform to achieve our development goals. We are confident that the APC will take Jigawa State to the next level, and we are excited to be part of it.”

The defection has sparked reactions from various quarters, with the PDP state chairman, Ali Diginsa, expressing disappointment.

“We are not surprised, but we are disappointed. These individuals have abandoned the PDP for personal gains, and we will not miss them.” Dinginsa told The Punch.

Efforts to speak to the leader of the NNPP in the state, Aminu Ringim, proved abortive, as his phone line was not available despite several attempts by our correspondent to reach him.

Credit: The Punch