___By Ewere Okonta
Let’s be honest — nobody saw this coming. Not even the most seasoned political prophets could have predicted the political tsunami that hit Delta State on April 25th, 2025. For nearly 26 years, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) called the shots, set the agenda, and basically ran the show in Delta. But in a single day, the story flipped. And not gradually — it was swift, shocking, and, frankly, unprecedented.
It all began on May 29th, 1999, when Nigeria returned to democratic governance and Chief James Onanefe Ibori became the first elected governor of Delta State on the PDP platform. That was the beginning of what many thought was a lifelong marriage between Delta State and the PDP.
Ibori’s eight-year reign (1999–2007) wasn’t just about governance — it was about establishing political dominance. He built structures, installed loyalists, and created a political dynasty that appeared unshakeable. When he handed over to Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan in 2007 — his cousin and then Secretary to the State Government — it was seen as family business staying in-house. Uduaghan, another PDP stalwart, held power till 2015.
Then came Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, a smooth, grassroots politician with deep Ika roots and a national reputation. Under his watch (2015–2023), PDP’s dominance in Delta State became even more entrenched. Okowa wasn’t just a state leader — he rose to become the PDP Vice Presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, running alongside Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. For many, that solidified Delta’s place as PDP’s Southern fortress.
In 2023, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly and Okowa’s political protégé, emerged as governor. Still flying the PDP flag, he was seen as the natural successor — someone who would sustain the tradition and keep the PDP engine running. And for a while, it seemed like business as usual.
But the calm was only surface-level.
Fast-forward to April 25th, 2025 — the day the ground cracked beneath the feet of Delta’s political landscape. In a dramatic move, Governor Oborevwori announced his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) — the ruling party at the federal level. That in itself was big news. But what followed was mind-blowing.
This was not your typical Nigerian defection where a lone politician switches parties. No. This was a full-blown political migration.
Governor Oborevwori didn’t go alone. He took along:
• The entire Delta State Executive Council
• All political appointees
• All 25 Local Government Council Chairmen
• Every single elected councillor
• Most of the PDP’s party officials at the ward, LGA, and even state levels
And here’s the plot twist: Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, Oborevwori’s predecessor and Atiku’s former running mate, also defected.
Yes, Okowa, a man who was once considered a pillar of the PDP, crossed over to APC without blinking. That single move raised more questions than answers. What changed? Was it ideological? Strategic? Or simply survival politics?
Whichever way you slice it, the PDP’s reign in Delta is over. Abruptly. Spectacularly. Finally.
Conversations across the state — from Warri to Agbor, from Asaba to Ughelli — are filled with a mix of disbelief, disappointment, and resigned amusement.
One political observer in Sapele said, “It’s like waking up to find your parents divorced after 26 years of a happy marriage. You don’t know whether to cry or ask what went wrong.”
PDP, once the darling of Delta politics, has been left politically naked. The party’s structures are now empty shells. Their once-vibrant secretariats across the LGAs now sit in stunned silence. Their most dependable warhorses are now wearing APC tags.
Political pundits have begun to dissect the why and how. Some say it’s a strategic realignment — Delta moving to align with the federal government to secure better deals. Others argue it was the result of internal PDP disunity and festering grievances. There are even whispers of “pressure from above” — classic Abuja politics.
But if you’re looking for the real message, here it is: nothing in politics is permanent. Not even 26 years of dominance.
The APC, long seen as an outsider in Delta politics, has now become the landlord. And Sheriff Oborevwori, once PDP’s loyal captain, is now sailing under a new flag — boldly, unapologetically.
As for the PDP? Well, it’s back to the drawing board. Whether it can recover or not is another conversation entirely. One thing’s for sure — the PDP chapter in Delta’s political book has ended. And not with a full stop, but with a dramatic exclamation mark.
So, Delta people, brace up. A new political era has begun.
*Ewere Okonta is the CEO of EOB Media. He writes from the Department of Business Administration, University of Delta, Agbor.*
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