Oborevwori Notably Absent as Omo-Agege, Ogboru Join APC Governors to Welcome PDP Defector

Abuja, Nigeria – April 27, 2025 — Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori was notably absent on Saturday night when the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) met in Abuja to welcome prominent new entrants into the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The high-profile meeting, held at the Imo Governor’s Lodge in the nation’s capital, was organized to formally receive a wave of recent defectors, including Oborevwori himself, who earlier in the week announced his departure from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the ruling APC.

Despite his major political shift, the Delta governor was nowhere to be seen among the gathering of APC stalwarts, raising questions about his next political moves.

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Oborevwori’s Sudden Shift from PDP to APC

Governor Oborevwori, who won the 2023 governorship election under the PDP banner, cited “several factors” for his defection to the APC. His move, alongside that of his predecessor Ifeanyi Okowa and the collapse of the PDP structure in Delta State into the APC, has been described as a seismic political realignment in the oil-rich South-South region.

Oborevwori and Okowa maintain that joining the APC offers a “better platform” to advance the development of Delta State, a decision that has been met with both praise and criticism across political divides.

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Who Attended the Abuja Meeting?

Several prominent political figures from Delta State and the APC national leadership were present at Saturday’s meeting, including:

• Senator Ned Nwoko (representing Delta North)
• Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation
• Ovie Omo-Agege, former Deputy Senate President
• Felix Morka, APC National Publicity Secretary
• Great Ogboru, former Delta State governorship candidate
• Multiple serving members of the National Assembly

The gathering underlines the APC’s strategy to solidify its base ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly in regions traditionally dominated by the PDP.

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Wider Reactions to the Defections

The recent defections have stirred significant reactions among political observers and PDP loyalists, who view the developments as a critical challenge to the opposition party’s efforts to regain power.

Bukola Saraki, former Senate President, expressed shock at the defections but maintained that the PDP remains resilient. Similarly, party elder statesman Bode George criticized the defectors, describing the APC as “an organisation personally owned” and arguing that the PDP would ultimately rebound.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, George stated:

“What impact has the APC given to the people? There is anger in the land. The people of Delta are naturally PDP. Those who defected eventually come back because they realize where their true home is.”

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also downplayed the defections, expressing confidence that the PDP would emerge stronger ahead of the 2027 polls.

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Impact on Nigeria’s Political Landscape

Analysts suggest that the defection of heavyweights like Oborevwori and Okowa is a significant blow to the PDP’s 2027 ambitions, particularly in the South-South, where the party has historically enjoyed strong support. The moves are also seen as a major win for the APC, which is seeking to entrench its dominance across the country.

However, with internal dissatisfaction brewing over economic hardship and governance issues under the APC-led federal government, the 2027 general elections are shaping up to be fiercely contested.

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Editor’s Note 

While the reasons behind Governor Oborevwori’s absence from the Saturday meeting remain unclear, his next political steps will be closely watched. As Nigeria’s political landscape continues to shift, both major parties will need to re-strategize to secure voter loyalty ahead of the next electoral cycle.