KEY POINTS

• Delta PDP dismisses the defection of Governor Oborevwori, ex-Governor Okowa, and party leaders to the APC as inconsequential, vowing to rebuild through grassroots restructuring.

• The party mandates ward-level elections to fill leadership gaps, urging loyalty amid fears the APC could exploit the vacuum ahead of 2027 polls.

• Political analysts link the defections to broader factionalism and the APC’s strategy to weaken PDP strongholds in the Niger Delta.

The Delta State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed the defection of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, and key party leaders to the All Progressives Congress (APC), calling the move politically inconsequential.

SaharaReporters noted that at an emergency meeting in Asaba on Monday, the party’s caretaker committee, led by acting chairman Anthony Ejumejowo, resolved to rebuild its grassroots structure, urging loyal members to remain steadfast despite the leadership vacuum.

The defection, which saw the governor and executives at state, senatorial, and local government levels join the APC, sparked immediate backlash within the PDP.

In a communique signed by Ejumejowo and acting publicity secretary Bolowei Gburugburu, the party stated, “The decamping of the governor and executives is not envisaged in our constitution. The structure and spirit of the PDP lie with its ordinary members, who have kept the party alive since 1998.” The PDP directed outgoing executives to hand over party assets to senior staff and instructed ward members to elect interim leaders to fill vacant positions.

Analysts warn defections could reshape Delta’s political landscape ahead of 2027 elections

Political observers note the defections reflect deepening factionalism within Delta’s PDP, historically a stronghold of the party. Professor Efe Omorogbe of Delta State University remarked, “This exodus isn’t just about individuals—it’s a symptom of unresolved power struggles and the APC’s aggressive poaching tactics in the South-South.” The APC, buoyed by recent gains in Edo and Rivers states, has intensified efforts to erode PDP dominance in the Niger Delta region.

The PDP’s emergency measures include mandating ward-level meetings to elect ad hoc executives, a move aimed at preventing organizational collapse. “We cannot let the party die,” the communique stressed, referencing the PDP’s 26-year legacy in Delta.

However, challenges loom: the defection of Oborevwori, who succeeded Okowa in 2023, weakens the party’s access to state resources ahead of local elections. Meanwhile, the APC has capitalized on the upheaval, with spokesman Tony Ede declaring, “Delta is ripe for progressive governance, and we welcome all patriots to our fold.”

The crisis mirrors national trends, where defections have surged since the 2023 general elections. A recent Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) report revealed over 1,200 politicians switched parties in 2024 alone, citing “irreconcilable differences” and “pursuit of inclusive governance.” For Delta’s PDP, the path to recovery hinges on mobilizing its grassroots base. Party stalwart Gloria Odogwu warned, “If we fail to reconnect with voters, the APC will exploit this void.”