In a dramatic escalation of political tensions in Delta State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has vowed to reclaim its mandate through the courts, following the shock defection of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, and several party leaders to the All Progressives Congress (APC). This seismic shift, which effectively dismantled PDP’s 26-year dominance in Delta, has triggered an aggressive legal response from the party’s national leadership.
The dramatic announcement comes on the heels of a political earthquake in Delta State. On April 23, 2025, the PDP’s 26-year dominance in the oil-rich state crumbled overnight as Governor Oborevwori, Okowa, and the entire PDP political structure defected en masse to the APC. The defection, described by political analysts as the most strategic shift in Delta’s political history, has prompted swift condemnation and strategic countermeasures from the opposition party.
Acting PDP National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, did not mince words. Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, he labeled the defections as a betrayal of the trust reposed in the defectors by the electorate under the PDP platform, further stating that the party would pursue all constitutional means to challenge the defection. “These are mandates given to the PDP by the people of Delta, not to individuals to transfer at will,” he stated.
Damagum has since directed the PDP’s National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), to initiate legal proceedings aimed at unseating the defectors and restoring PDP’s grip on Delta politics. The legal team is expected to argue that the elected officials, having secured office under the PDP banner, cannot lawfully retain their mandates after switching parties.
Legal experts say the PDP could make a case based on judicial precedents discouraging political carpet-crossing, especially when the defections alter the balance of power or appear politically motivated rather than ideologically driven. While the Nigerian Constitution permits freedom of association, there is precedent for courts interpreting mass defection by elected officials as tantamount to political betrayal, especially when the party on whose platform they were elected challenges it.
In the wake of the crisis, the PDP moved swiftly to begin rebuilding its collapsed structure in Delta. The party has appointed veteran party leader, Chief Emma Ogidi, to lead the reorganization of its state chapter. The leadership believes Ogidi’s grassroots appeal and longstanding loyalty to the PDP can rekindle support and restore confidence among the rank and file.
“The PDP is not dead in Delta. We are regrouping, and we will rise again,” Ogidi declared during a press briefing in Asaba. “We are talking to loyal stakeholders, youth groups, and our traditional bases. We will not be bullied into silence by those who traded integrity for access.”
Meanwhile, the fallout from the defection has stirred fresh anxiety within the PDP nationwide. Party insiders confirm that the leadership is increasingly concerned about a growing pro-Tinubu bloc within its ranks—an internal rebellion that could fracture the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Sources close to the PDP high command say the leadership is now monitoring members suspected of warming up to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election ambitions. These developments have sparked discussions about enforcing stricter internal discipline to maintain unity, especially as the party tries to position itself as a credible opposition ahead of the next election cycle.
Amidst the turmoil, Okowa has attempted to calm the storm, hinting at a possible future defection of PDP’s 2023 presidential flagbearer, Atiku Abubakar, to the APC. Though Atiku has not made any public declarations, Okowa’s comments have added another layer of intrigue to an already volatile political landscape.
Political analysts suggest that the Delta defection could mark the beginning of a broader realignment in southern Nigerian politics as this could be a calculated move to tilt national power dynamics ahead of 2027.
The legal battle, once it kicks off, is expected to test the resilience of Nigeria’s democratic institutions and constitutional frameworks. It could also set a precedent for how political mandates are interpreted in the face of rampant party-switching.
