Sheriff Oborevwori, the governor of Delta State, formally switched parties on Wednesday, joining the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Given that Delta has been a PDP stronghold since 1999, his departure is viewed as a significant change in the political climate of the state.
Oborevwori’s choice to join the APC is part of an increasing number of governors who have changed their party affiliation while still in office, from the PDP to the APC.
A number of governors have changed parties over the years, claiming a variety of reasons such as wanting better ties with the federal government or being unhappy with the leadership of their previous party.
Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State is one of seven current governors that defected from the PDP to the APC.
Many political analysts were taken aback by Oborevwori’s decision to join the APC. His decision is a serious setback to the Delta State PDP as a sitting governor of a key state. His departure highlights the state’s shifting political landscape.
From Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi
During his second term, Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi moved to the APC in November 2020. He pointed to the PDP’s marginalization of the Southeast and commended the APC for President Muhammadu Buhari’s emphasis on infrastructural development.
Cross River State’s Ben Ayade
In May 2021, Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade defected to the APC. According to him, he made the decision because he wanted to work with the federal government to bring more development projects to the state, especially in the fields of industry and infrastructure.
Matawalle Bello (Zamfara State)
Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle switched from the PDP to the APC in June 2021. The defection was viewed as a calculated move to safeguard his political career and preserve state peace after months of political unrest in Zamfara.
Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto State)
Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State initially defected to the APC ahead of the 2015 general elections. However, he returned to the PDP in 2018. Despite this, Tambuwal has been linked to a potential return to the APC, showing the fluidity of his political positioning while still in office.
Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto State)
Aliyu Wamakko, former Governor of Sokoto State, defected to the APC in 2014 during his tenure. Wamakko was one of the early political figures whose defection helped shape the APC’s eventual victory in the 2015 general elections, marking him as a key player in the party’s growth.
Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara State)
Abdulfatah Ahmed, who served as the Governor of Kwara State from 2011 to 2019, defected to the APC in 2014. This move came alongside Bukola Saraki during the “political tsunami” in Kwara. Although Ahmed returned to the PDP later, his 2014 defection was pivotal in shifting the political tides in the state.
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