The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership has directed Kamaldeen Ajibade, its legal adviser, to expeditiously prepare legal procedures to contest the defection of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, former Vice-Presidential candidate Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, and the entire PDP structure in Delta State, who recently joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The decision reportedly comes after a significant change of political allegiance on April 23, 2025, when Okowa, Governor Oborevwori, and other influential members of the Delta State chapter of the PDP defected from the opposition party and vowed to back the APC.
Given that these people were first elected on the PDP platform, the national leadership of the party has pledged to use the legal system to regain its mandate.
Acting National Chairman Amb. Umar Damagum reaffirmed the party’s intention to contest the defection in court following the first National Working Committee (NWC) meeting of the year.
In order to recover what is rightfully ours, we are willing to pursue legal action. Damagum declared, “We will make sure that justice is served because these people were elected on our platform.”
He disclosed that the PDP has already tasked Emma Ogidi, the South-South zone’s Caretaker Chairman, with assuming Delta State’s leadership role.
Read Also: Tinubu Will Win Again in 2027 Unless Opposition Unites – Okonkwo
Ogidi will also look for new party leaders, ignoring the current leadership under Chief Dan Orbih, whose authority has now been eclipsed by the defection.
Important PDP leaders, including Deputy Governor Monday Onyeme, state commissioners, local government chairmen, and grassroots machinery, have switched to the APC as a result of the defection, which happened following a private meeting in Asaba.
The basis of the PDP’s position in Delta State, one of its strongholds for years, has been rocked by this political realignment, known as the “Hurricane Tinubu.”
Opposition leaders are worried about this move, claiming it might be a symptom of a dangerous trend toward a one-party state that would undermine democracy.
In light of these events, the PDP has set May 27, 2025, as the date of its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting. The purpose of this meeting is to debate the ramifications of the defections and decide how the party would proceed to defend its mandate.
