Why Oborevwori, Okowa others’ defect to APC?

We’re not bothered — PDP, LP, Atiku’s coalition

*Say 2027 between APC, Nigerians *Delta defection, mockery of democracy — Abure's LP  faction lMore Govs’ll join us soon — Ganduje

Following the defection of  Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, his predecessor, Senator Ifeanyi Okokwa and other stakeholders to the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Delta State, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the Labour Party, LP, and the anti-Tinubu coalition, said they were not bothered by the defections.

While the PDP described it as unfortunate, insisting that the 2027 general elections will be determined by Nigerians and not the number of governors, the Labour Party, LP, described it as an aberration and a mockery of democracy.

The anti-Tinubu coalition, on its part, expressed indifference to the defection of Governor Oborevwori, saying more governors will join the APC.

The leadership of the PDP in Plateau State, however, urged its loyal members to be calm in the face of ongoing defections, noting that defections are not new in the political process.

For the Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, it will take the collective will and determination of Nigerians to end the cycle of political rascality among the political class. 

Reacting to Wednesday’s defection of Oborevwori and his predecessor, the acting National Chairman of the PDP, Ambassador Umar Damagum described it as shocking, noting that Delta State was the least expected for such an action to take place.

He spoke at the party secretariat during the presentation of the Certificate of Return to the PDP Anambra State gubernatorial election for November 8, 2025, Mr. Eze Jude.

Damagum stated that the 2027 presidential election is between President Bola Tinubu and Nigerias. 

He said: “It’s very sad because if there’s any state that should think that way, it should not be Delta, because the party is very magnanimous. I thank God that in their message, they didn’t say that the party did anything wrong to them other than good.

“It’s a decision taken by them, but the pains will be in us not because of anything, but because we have given Delta State all our support, from the emergence of the governor to his predecessor, who also doubled as our vice presidential candidate. I think we’ve done it all for them in Delta State. 

“We least expected this action from them. All the same, this is a party that has seen more than that, but it’s still standing.

“I want to use this opportunity to say, we’ll take over our structures immediately by setting up a caretaker. We are still taking stock and we will do that immediately. I also want to enjoin our members, both in Delta and the country, and remind us of what happened in 2023. The PDP can still make it.

“Peter Obi had no governor, but he got all the votes that he mustered. The 2027 general elections will not be about how many governors or how many leaders you have, it is about Tinubu and Nigerians. The ordinary man is feeling the pinch and the decision is his. So, I want to use this opportunity to tell Nigerians that it is their election. It is APC versus Nigerians.

“It’s not APC versus any governor or Senator or anything, but APC versus Nigerians. I want to urge all of us to close ranks and rescue ourselves from this hardship that was inflicted on us by design, not any coincidence.

“Policies are meant for people.

“We will experience a lot of challenges but there is no insurmountable challenge. I thank God we are all people of faith.

“We know there is a limit to whatever one can do other than what God has designed. You may have your tactics but you cannot outplay God. We leave our fate in the hands of God and we believe He will help us out of this great situation.”

Our strength remains unshaken — Plateau PDP Chairman  

In a move aimed at preventing deplection within its ranks, the leadership of the PDP in Plateau State, yesterday, urged its members to be calm in the face of the ongoing defections.

It said defections are not new in the political process.

State Chairman of the party, Chris Hassan, who spoke after a meeting at the party secretariat in Jos, reiterated its commitment to continue providing the needed platform for the aspirations of the people to be realized.

His words: “The PDP in Plateau State commends Governor Caleb Mutfwang for the outstanding leadership and good governance. His developmental strides, commitment to justice, equity, and service to the people are truly remarkable.

“We have noted the isolated instances of defections by a few party members to other political parties. Let me, therefore, urge all loyal party faithful to remain calm and resolute. Defections are not new in the political process, however, we are confident that the strength and credibility of the PDP in Plateau State remain unshaken.”

We’re not 

distracted— Atiku’s coalition

The anti-Tinubu coalition, led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, yesterday, expressed indifference to the decision of Oborevwori to ditch the PDP for the APC.

The Coalition spokesman, Salihu Lukman said the move was not unexpected, adding that some other PDP governors are still being expected in the APC.

Lukman said: “First, I think anybody who will say this is unexpected, will only be deceiving himself. The signals have been there, that some governors were going to decamp. It is not just one but some governors.

“You also know the situation in PDP. The party is clearly a shadow of its own self. Although we acknowledge there are people, there are leaders in PDP who are optimistic they can rescue the party. But if you remember, when the governors issued a statement against the coalition, what was our response? Our response was that many of them were working for Asiwaju, and shortly after that, you saw the statement from Akwa Ibom, and of course the Delta governor. It is not only him, if you check the comments, there are many more who are being expected. And on two sides, on the side of people, who genuinely worry for the country, are expressing fears about a one-party state.

“And on the side of the government and APC, they are jubilating. All that one can say is that look, the beauty of democracy is about competition. The whole initiative to begin to negotiate the coalition is to ensure that in 2027, Nigerians are presented with options.

“We have gone far, and what has happened in terms of some governors and some leaders moving into APC is not going to distract us at all. Not long from now, the full details of the coalition will be unveiled to Nigerians. And the structure and strategy in terms of how the election will be contested will be clarified.

“We are just hoping that leaders of the PDP who genuinely are working to rescue the party are thinking in the direction that rescuing the party should mean rebuilding the party, so that the culture of imposition is a thing of the past in PDP. If that happens, we will regard the new PDP that will be born as a partner in the project of the coalition to rescue the country.

“I can tell you for certain, we are not going to produce a new political structure that will be blind or ignorant of the character of politicians. Anybody coming in will be related to, based on their past trajectory. So, we truly want to rescue the country, we are not talking of rescuing the country as just defeating Asiwaju and APC.

“We want to correct all the mistakes and shortcomings from the Buhari administration to the Asiwaju administration. And we want to restore the aspiration of Nigerians to produce a stronger and greater country, produce leaders that they will be proud of.

“That is what the coalition is all about. And if anybody sees it differently, we are going to correct all of that.”

Defections, a 

mockery of 

democracy 

— LP

Reacting to the defections in Delta State, the Julius Abure-led Labour Party, LP, described the recent gale of defections into the APC as an aberration and a mockery of democracy.

National Publicity Secretary of the faction, Obiora Ifoh, in a chat with Vanguard, explained that multi-party democracy such as Nigeria seeks to operate can only thrive when strong opposition parties co-exist alongside the ruling party.

Ifoh said: “The recent gale of defections from opposition parties into the ruling APC, is an aberration. It is a mockery of democracy.

“When in 2003 the then President, Olusegun Obasanjo, ransacked the South-West and took over states belonging to the defunct Alliance for Democracy, AD, it was only Bola Tinubu,  who was then Lagos State governor, that survived.

“But if today, the same person watches or encourages his party to force  opposition politicians to defect into the ruling party, which he leads knowing what the constitution says about such things leaves so much to be desired.”

The party spokesman noted that respect for the rule of law must form the basis of our democratic existence as a nation if we must make appreciable progress.

Polls’ll be 

determined by 

hungry, 

frustrated 

Nigerians 

— CUPP

On its part, the Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, has said it would take the collective will and determination of Nigerians to end the cycle of political rascality among the political class. 

National Secretary of the CUPP, Chief Peter Ameh, noted that the years of political strangulation, electoral heists and incompetence in governance by politicians in power will continue for as long as citizens fail to take their destinies in their hands by holding those in public office accountable. 

Ameh said: “Nigeria stands at a critical juncture, where the collective will of its citizens can reshape the nation’s future. 

“For too long, politicians in power have ignored the daily struggles of ordinary Nigerians, perpetuating a cycle of incompetence, corruption, and neglect. 

“The hunger, frustration, and anger of the masses have reached a boiling point, and the 2027 general elections will be the battleground where the forgotten people reclaim their country. 

“Through mass participation and unwavering determination, Nigerians can break the shackles of the wicked minority in power and usher in a new era of accountable governance.

“The challenges faced by ordinary Nigerians are stark and undeniable. 

“Rising poverty, unemployment, insecurity, and crumbling infrastructure have become the hallmarks of daily life, while those in government offer little more than empty promises and self-serving agendas. 

“In 2027, Nigeria’s hungry and frustrated citizens will be the decisive force in determining the outcome of the general elections.”

More govs

joining us soon 

— Ganduje

Still basking in the euphoria  of the defections, the National Chairman of the APC, yesterday, declared that the 2027 general election was already a “done deal,” vowing to win all off-season elections before then.

National Chairman of the party, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje disclosed this when he formally received some defectors from the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, in Kano State led by the lawmaker representing Kano South, Senator Kawu Ismaila.

Ganduje also confirmed that the party is expecting more governors from the opposition parties to join the APC fold very soon.

Speaking after a closed-door meeting with the new entrants, Ganduje said: “In APC, we believe in our president, Asiwaju Tinubu. We believe in his economic reforms, we believe in his renewed hope agenda and part of the political renewed hope agenda is trying to canvass for more followership into the party.

“We started by democratically electing governors, especially in Edo State, who was in PDP, we elected, we succeeded in winning the election, he is now in APC.

“The governor of Delta State is now in APC, including his cabinet, members of the state Assembly and House of Representatives, and the timber and calibre of PDP, now in APC, even including the former Vice Presidential candidate coming into our party.

“So, you can see that we are expanding. I don’t want to reveal our secret, but what I am telling you is that for APC, 2027 is a done deal.”  

Asked about reports of possible defection of some state governors into the APC, Ganduje said: “More governors are coming into APC, I assure you, and places where we have election, APC will by God’s grace, win those elections.”

It’s a new dawn for Delta —Sen Nwoko

The lawmaker representing Delta North senatorial district, Senator Ned Nwoko, described Oborevwori’s defection as a new dawn for the state.

Nwoko, in a statement said the defection must not be symbolic, but must be transformative.

The lawmaker said: “With your courageous defection to the APC, a significant chapter in our nation’s political history is being rewritten. 

“This moment is not just about shifting allegiances, it is about the bold possibilities now within reach. For the first time in decades, we have a real chance to restructure Nigeria’s federating units through constitutionally backed reforms that serve justice, equity, and true federalism.

“As governor of Delta State,  leading the charge  among five PDP governors now aligning with the APC, you have stepped into a party reenergized and focused, a party that has already begun laying the groundwork for bold constitutional amendments.”