By Flourish Jijevwe Ak
Recent political maneuvers in Delta State suggest that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori may be considering defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 elections. However, even if he makes this move, his chances of securing the APC governorship ticket—or even a significant political future—are extremely slim. Here is the road to uncovering the deep truths:
One of the biggest motivations behind Oborevwori’s potential defection is the looming fear of defeat and the aftermath threat of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) probe into the financial dealings of his administration and that of his predecessor, Ifeanyi Okowa.
During Okowa’s tenure as governor, Delta State accumulated massive debts, with allegations of mismanagement and questionable loan approvals. As Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Oborevwori played a key role in approving these loans, some of which were allegedly used to fund political battles against now-President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 elections.
If the EFCC begins probing Okowa’s administration, Oborevwori could be implicated. His defection to the APC may be a last-ditch effort to negotiate protection for himself and that of his Godfather, but the APC is unlikely to offer him a safe haven due to rooted battles fought against powers that be.
But does he really think the APC will roll out the red carpet for a man who helped bankroll opposing force against President Tinubu’s journey? In so many scenarios, Governor Sheriff and his political Godfather has tried to wrestle with the president, the latest of it was how they mobilized mercenaries (top PDP and Delta political appointees) to campaign rigorously for PDP’s Ighodalo chanting “Edo no be Lagos”. It’s important to note that you can’t dine with the devil and then beg for a seat at the angels’ table.
Prior to the 2023 elections, Governor Sheriff and his Godfather played down on the former governor of Delta State Chief James Ibori, who now enjoys a well-established relationship with President Tinubu, one that was solidified with sweet relationship before and during the 2023 elections. Unlike Oborevwori, who was part of the Okowa camp that opposed Tinubu, Ibori has strategically aligned himself with the President and regarded as the leader of leaders in the south-south region.
This alliance is not one that can be easily traded for political convenience. Tinubu is known for rewarding loyalty, and Ibori’s influence in Delta and beyond is at the peak.
Oborevwori, on the other hand, was part of the Okowa-led group that sought to retire Ibori from politics. Now that Ibori is back in favor, his camp will fiercely resist any attempt to hand the APC ticket to a former political adversary.
Chief James Ibori isn’t just back—he’s back with silent vengeance, and his alliance with Tinubu is tighter than a drum.
APC in Delta is no longer a fringe opposition party, but a formidable force preparing to take over in 2027. The recent defection of the Delta Unity Group (DUG) into the APC, led by NDDC Chairman Chiedu Ebie, shows that the party is consolidating its base with credible, homegrown politicians.
National APC Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje has made it clear that the party is focused on unity and winning Delta State. The APC already has strong contenders. Oborevwori’s sudden defection would be seen as opportunistic.
Nyesom Wike on the other hand, now a key figure in Tinubu’s government, has previously declared war on the Okowa political structure. Since Oborevwori was Okowa’s anointed successor, he is a prime target in Wike’s political onslaught.
Even if Oborevwori stays in the PDP, his chances of securing the party’s ticket in 2027 are slim, as the current National Secretary and acting chairman of the PDP are siding with Wike which brings us to the question of “who will sign his INEC form if he stays back in PDP? This leaves Oborevwori in a political limbo—unwanted in the PDP and unwelcome in the APC.
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s rumored defection to the APC is a desperate move born out of fear—fear of EFCC investigations, fear of Wike’s political vengeance, and fear of losing relevance in 2027. However, the APC is not a rehabilitation center for politically endangered governors.
President Tinubu’s strong alliance with Ibori and Wike, the growing strength of Delta APC, and the party’s preference for loyalists all point to one conclusion: Oborevwori’s defection will be a political dead end. His best-case scenario may be negotiating a soft landing to avoid prosecution, but his chances of clinching the APC ticket—or retaining any significant power—are near zero.
The governor, like a frightened antelope fleeing a bushfire, may exercise his freedom to dash into the APC’s camp—but freedom to cross over doesn’t mean freedom to conquer. The political jungle operates by its own ruthless rules: you can’t jump into a moving train and expect to be handed the driver’s seat. If the head (the governor) is this confused—scampering from PDP to APC like a chicken chased by hawks—what does that tell the followers? When the chief priest starts sacrificing to opposing gods, the villagers must know the shrine is burning. The writing is on the wall: there’s fire on the mountain, and no amount of political cross-carpeting will quench these flames. A leader without a clear path only leads his followers into a wilderness of uncertainty. A rat abandoning a sinking ship must still swim—and in Delta’s political waters, the sharks are already circling.
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori is caught between a rock and a hard place. Staying in the PDP means facing Wike’s wrath and possible defeat in 2027, while defecting to the APC offers no real path to victory due to internal resistance, his past political battles, and the dominance of the Ibori factor.
His best option may be to negotiate a soft landing, but the chances of him clinching the APC ticket—or any major political relevance post-2027—are extremely slim. The dynamics in Delta politics have shifted, and Oborevwori’s survival is far from guaranteed.
Delta’s political tide has turned, and Oborevwori may soon find himself stranded.
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