In a stunning political upheaval, Delta State — a stronghold of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for over two decades — has erupted in a series of defections that could send shockwaves across the nation, drastically altering the landscape ahead of the 2027 elections. What was once a political fortress for the PDP is now crumbling, as key figures within the party make their exit, dramatically shifting alliances and setting the stage for a new political era.
At the Asaba Cenotaph today, an extraordinary political spectacle will unfold as Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, his deputy Monday Onyeme, the immediate past Governor Ifeanyi Okowa (who was also the PDP’s presidential running mate), House Speaker Emomotimi Guwor, and a host of elected officials from across the state will ceremoniously abandon the PDP umbrella for the ruling APC broom. The crowd will witness what political analysts are calling a “political tsunami,” with Vice President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje personally receiving the defectors into the fold of the ruling party.
Delta State, which has been a PDP stronghold since 1999, is now officially in play. The significance of this mass defection cannot be overstated. With over 21 APC governors mobilized for the mega event — ten of whom, including Hope Uzodimma, Bassey Otu, and Monday Okpebholo, had already landed in Asaba by yesterday evening — it’s clear that the battle for political dominance in 2027 has already begun.
Let the numbers speak for themselves:
Delta is home to more than 2.8 million registered voters (according to 2023 INEC figures). In the 2023 presidential elections, PDP’s Atiku Abubakar, with Okowa as his running mate, secured just 161,600 votes in the state, while APC’s Bola Tinubu garnered 90,183 votes. And now, a staggering 41 out of 50 elected state officials are making the switch to APC with Oborevwori, signaling the total collapse of PDP’s political machinery in the region.
Festus Keyamo (SAN) has declared: “Delta is no longer an opposition state — welcome to the Renewed Hope train!”
So, what does all of this mean? For Delta’s politics, this seismic shift will only embolden the APC to strengthen its control as it gears up for 2027. Oborevwori’s M.O.R.E. agenda — which stands for Meaningful Development, Opportunities for All, Realistic Reforms, and Enhanced Peace and Security — will now align with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope vision, creating a powerful synergy that could redefine the state’s political future.
Nationally, this means APC’s influence is rapidly expanding, while the PDP, already riddled with internal conflicts, faces the very real prospect of being relegated from a major opposition force to a regional minority — especially if similar defections take place in other key states such as Plateau, Akwa Ibom, and Kano, as speculated.
For the 2027 presidential race, these defections could be the game-changer. Analysts predict that with both Kano — with its 14 million people and 5.5 million registered voters — and Delta now leaning towards APC, President Tinubu’s path to re-election could become significantly smoother.
Omo-Agege, one of the key figures in the defection drama, summed it up succinctly: “This is a realignment of destiny; it is not just about politics — it is about the future of governance and national stability.”
Meanwhile, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi captured the drama in his own words: “This earthquake will echo from Asaba to Abuja. The opposition has just lost a vital organ.”
However, despite the excitement surrounding these defections, several critical questions remain unanswered. Will Oborevwori, widely seen as a consensus-builder with a relatively soft political style, be able to navigate the complex and often brutal internal dynamics of the APC? Will Okowa, who once harbored presidential ambitions under the PDP banner, be able to reinvent himself within a party he opposed for decades? And most importantly, will the people of Delta — who overwhelmingly voted for the PDP in 2023 — accept this sudden political about-face?
PDP loyalists are already voicing their outrage, accusing the defectors of betraying the state’s soul. On the other hand, APC supporters are celebrating what they call “the final burial of a tired opposition.”
As the dust settles in Asaba, one thing is certain: Nigerian politics just became even more unpredictable. And as for 2027? The game has just begun… right in the heart of Delta!
