A massive crowd gathered in Asaba, Delta State, on Monday as Vice President Kashim Shettima, All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, and ten APC governors welcomed Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa into the ruling party.
The venue of the rally was packed with enthusiastic party supporters, celebrating what is being described as a major political realignment in Delta State.
VIDEO:
VP Kashim Shettima arrives in Asaba for the rally, where Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, will officially join the ruling APC. pic.twitter.com/JyIiU6Ncs1
— News Region (@irnewsregion) April 28, 2025
The governors in attendance included Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq (Kwara), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Monday Okpebholo (Edo), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Usman Ododo (Kogi), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), and Bassey Otu (Cross River).
Last week, in a move that caught many by surprise, Governor Oborevwori, his predecessor Ifeanyi Okowa, Deputy Governor Monday Onyeme, and several top Delta State government officials announced their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC. The decision was confirmed after a closed-door meeting at the Government House in Asaba on Wednesday evening.
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Festus Ahon, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, confirmed the development, stating that it followed extensive consultations with political stakeholders and was made in the best interests of Delta’s long-term development.
Following the defection, the APC officially welcomed Oborevwori, Okowa, and other former PDP leaders into its fold. In a statement released on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka described the defection as a significant political milestone, expressing the party’s excitement over the development.
“The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress, under the leadership of His Excellency Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, CON, is highly elated by the decision of the Governor of Delta State, His Excellency Sheriff Oborevwori, to join our great party,” the statement read.
Morka noted that Governor Oborevwori’s move was part of a broader wave of defections, which included former Vice Presidential candidate and ex-Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, senior administration officials, House of Assembly members, local government chairmen, councillors, and numerous grassroots supporters.
He emphasized the APC’s readiness to fully integrate the new members into the party structure.
“Our great party welcomes this important development and assures the governor, as well as the incoming leaders and members of Delta PDP, of our fullest cooperation and accommodation within the APC family,” Morka stated.
The APC also highlighted the wider significance of the defections, suggesting they would strengthen both Delta State’s and Nigeria’s development efforts under the current administration.
“We are delighted that Delta State now stands poised to contribute maximally to the success and realisation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, and to the enduring good and prosperity of Deltans and all Nigerians,” the statement concluded.
