Shettima, Ganduje Storm Asaba to Receive Oborevwori, Delta PDP Defectors

Delta State is witnessing an unprecedented political shift today as Governor Sheriff Oborevwori officially joins the All Progressives Congress (APC) alongside a mass of former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders and elected officials. Asaba, the state capital, is in high spirits ahead of the historic event set to take place at the Cenotaph.

Vice President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje will formally receive Oborevwori and his delegation into the ruling party. Ganduje arrived in Asaba yesterday and held several meetings with Oborevwori and other defecting leaders ahead of today’s grand ceremony, described by observers as a political tsunami in a state that had remained a PDP stronghold since 1999.

At least 21 APC governors and key party leaders are expected to attend the rally. By 6pm yesterday, ten governors had already arrived, including Progressive Governors’ Forum chairman Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Bassey Otu (Cross River), Monday Okpebholo (Edo), Usman Ododo (Kogi), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq (Kwara), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), Dikko Raddah (Katsina), and Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe). Former APC National Chairman, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, also touched down in the Delta capital.

The Cenotaph venue has been decorated with APC flags and banners, creating an atmosphere of celebration and anticipation. Apart from Oborevwori, other notable defectors include former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Deputy Governor Monday Onyeme, House of Assembly Speaker Emomotimi Guwor, Senator James Manager, commissioners, special advisers, federal and state lawmakers, as well as local government chairmen, councillors, and party executives at the ward level.

The Delta APC leadership has called on its members to turn out en masse to welcome the new entrants. Publicity Secretary Valentine Onojeghuo described the defection as a landmark event that marks a new dawn for the party in Delta. He said the move symbolizes unity, inclusivity, and a renewed commitment to the state’s development under Oborevwori’s M.O.R.E. Agenda, aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope vision.

Former Deputy Senate President and 2023 APC gubernatorial candidate, Ovie Omo-Agege, hailed the defection, crediting President Tinubu’s political acumen and leadership. He urged APC members to embrace the development with unity and shared purpose, stressing that the defection promises a brighter and more prosperous future for Delta and Nigeria.

Senator Peter Nwaoboshi also welcomed the defectors, describing their arrival as a significant boost for the APC’s strength across Delta. He maintained that the move would aid Tinubu’s re-election plans and signaled a major political realignment.

Executive Director of Business Development at NEXIM Bank, Stella Okotete, praised the governor’s defection, calling it a bold affirmation of vision, courage, and progressive governance. She urged APC members to prioritize unity and loyalty to drive development and consolidate the party’s dominance across Delta.

However, the wave of defections has attracted criticism, with some alleging a grand plan to establish a one-party state under President Tinubu. Responding, Presidential Adviser on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga dismissed the allegations as baseless, insisting that democracy remains strong and vibrant in Nigeria. He stressed that the administration is committed to multi-party democracy and that the opposition’s struggles are self-inflicted.

Senator Ned Nwoko of Delta North, who previously defected from PDP to APC, urged Governor Oborevwori to embrace transformative politics. He encouraged the governor to move beyond the “old habits” of PDP-era politics and to focus on legacy-building, fairness, and inclusive development, noting that the APC is already laying the foundation for constitutional reforms, including the creation of Anioma and New Delta states.