Bola Tinubu has described the defection of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, his predecessor Ifeanyi Okowa, and the entire Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) structure in Delta State to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the greatest political tsunami ever witnessed in Nigeria. Speaking through Vice President Kashim Shettima at the official reception ceremony in Asaba, Tinubu noted that never before had a governor defected with the full backing of his party’s entire structure-from ward to national levels, including elected and appointed officials.
The President urged Oborevwori, Okowa, and their followers to see themselves not as tenants but as co-owners of the APC, emphasizing their integral role in the party’s future and Nigeria’s progress. The event was also attended by APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, Governor Hope Uzodimma, and other party leaders who welcomed the defectors warmly.
Governor Oborevwori described the move as a “patriotic movement in the best interest of the state,” explaining that Delta State, rich in oil resources, could no longer afford to remain in opposition. He pledged to address internal party grievances and unify the new APC family in the state.
Former Governor Okowa, who was the PDP’s vice presidential candidate in 2023, stated that the defection was motivated by the need to connect Delta State to the federal government in Abuja to benefit from the resources and goodwill it offers. He called the decision “bold, strategic, patriotic, and well-intentioned,” emphasizing it was made for the common good of Deltans after wide consultations.
Vice President Shettima described the defection as a “political tsunami of unimaginable proportion” unprecedented in the history of Nigeria and the South-South region. He affirmed that the new members are giants of national politics and now co-owners of the APC.
The defection effectively ended the PDP’s 26-year dominance in Delta State, marking a major political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections and reshaping the political landscape in the oil-rich South-South region.
