Atiku Reacts As Okowa, Oborevwori, Others Defect to APC, Ending PDP’s 26-Year Rule in Delta
- April 25, 2025
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has responded to the mass defection of key Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) figures in Delta State, including his 2023 running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa, and the incumbent Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement posted on his official X account on Friday, Atiku said he holds no grudges against Okowa, Oborevwori, or any other PDP member who chose to leave the party. He emphasized that under the Nigerian Constitution, every citizen has the right to freedom of association, and noted that defection is a common feature in politics.
“I do not begrudge anyone for exercising their right of association. Defection is part and parcel of our political culture,” Atiku wrote.
The political shift, announced on Wednesday, included not only the former and current governors but also commissioners, local government chairpersons, and several PDP leaders across Delta State. The move effectively ends the PDP’s 26-year dominance in the oil-rich South-South state.
James Manager, the pioneer state chairperson of the PDP, confirmed the defection after a high-level meeting between Governor Oborevwori and party stakeholders at the Government House in Asaba.
The development marks a significant turning point in Delta’s political history and may signal deeper realignments ahead of future national elections.