Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori hinted on April 27, 2025, that former Governor James Ibori, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart, may follow his lead in defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC), a move that could reshape Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of 2027 elections.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting in Asaba, Oborevwori, who defected with 80% of Delta’s PDP structure on April 23, suggested Ibori’s alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s agenda, per The Guardian and BBC. The defection, welcomed by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, has drawn PDP threats of legal action under the 1999 Constitution.
Oborevwori’s defection, alongside former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and 15 state lawmakers, was framed as a strategic shift to secure federal support for Delta’s development, including the Warri Port dredging, per Channels Television. Ibori, a PDP founder and Delta governor from 1999 to 2007, wields significant influence, with his loyalists controlling key local government posts. His potential move, unconfirmed by Ibori himself, follows months of rumored tensions with PDP leadership over the party’s 2023 electoral losses. The APC’s rally in Asaba saw 500 councillors and 25 local chairmen join, signaling a near-collapse of PDP’s Delta base.
The PDP’s National Working Committee, citing Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution, plans to sue defectors to vacate their seats, alleging financial inducements by the APC. Ibori’s 2010 conviction for money laundering in the UK, later overturned, and ongoing EFCC probes have not diminished his political clout, with analysts viewing his potential defection as a blow to PDP’s south-south dominance, per The Guardian. The APC now controls 22 of Nigeria’s 36 states, per INEC data, bolstered by Delta’s shift.
Oborevwori’s comments, described as “consultative” by his aides, suggest Ibori may announce his decision by June, per BBC. The defection wave reflects Tinubu’s consolidation of power, with Delta’s oil wealth and 2023’s 360,234 PDP votes at stake, per INEC. Political analyst Chidi Amuta warned of judicial delays in PDP’s legal challenge, citing past cases. The development underscores Nigeria’s fluid political alliances, with Ibori’s next move potentially tipping the balance in the Niger Delta’s power dynamics.