The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has vowed to pursue legal action against Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, and other party chieftains who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on April 23, 2025, in a move described as a “political tsunami” by Vice-President Kashim Shettima.
The PDP’s National Working Committee, in a statement on April 29, accused the defectors of violating the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act by abandoning their mandates without resigning. The party seeks to reclaim their seats and impose sanctions, citing a betrayal of voter trust.
Oborevwori, elected on the PDP platform in 2023 with 360,234 votes, led the mass defection in Asaba, joined by Okowa, the PDP’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate, and 80% of Delta’s PDP structure, including 15 state lawmakers. The APC’s rally, attended by Shettima and APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, welcomed the group, with Okowa denying personal gain and citing alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s vision. The PDP alleges the defection was induced by financial promises, including federal appointments, and plans to challenge it under Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution, which mandates elected officials to vacate seats upon switching parties.
The PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, called the defection “treasonable,” noting Delta’s 25 local government chairmen and 500 councillors also joined the APC, weakening the PDP’s south-south stronghold. The party has engaged legal teams to file suits at the Federal High Court in Abuja by May 5, seeking declarations of vacancy for the defectors’ positions.
The defection shifts Delta’s political landscape, with the APC now controlling 22 of Nigeria’s 36 states. The PDP, holding 13 governorships, faces internal crises, having expelled 10 members for anti-party activities in 2024. Oborevwori’s move, reportedly influenced by Tinubu’s infrastructure promises, like the Warri Port dredging, has sparked debates on political loyalty, with the PDP urging INEC to enforce electoral laws. The legal battle’s outcome could reshape Nigeria’s political alignments ahead of the 2027 elections.