Governor Sheriff Oborevwori have left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC). Their defections have ignited debates about whether political pressure influenced their decision.
APC Denies Coercion, Blames PDP’s Decline
Speaking on Arise News on Thursday, April 24, APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka rejected claims of intimidation. He stated that all recent defections happened voluntarily.
“No one is being forced,” Morka said. “People in Delta don’t give in to threats. Governor Oborevwori and others chose to join us. No one in the APC intimidated or pressured them.”
Morka attributed the defections to the PDP’s internal crisis. He criticized Atiku Abubakar, the PDP’s 2023 presidential candidate, for focusing on coalition politics instead of rebuilding the party.
“The PDP is falling apart,” Morka added. “People see no clear future there, so they’re moving on.”
Critics Accuse Tinubu of Using Fear Tactics
Media executive Dele Momodu offered a starkly different view. On Channels TV’s Politics Today, he claimed that President Tinubu uses fear to push opposition figures into the APC.
“Many governors have received ultimatums,” Momodu alleged. “They’re being told to join the APC or face political attacks.”
He warned Tinubu to return to the democratic ideals he once stood for. “If he doesn’t let democracy thrive, history will not be kind to him,” Momodu said.
Beyond Delta, Senator Kawu Sumaila of Kano South also left the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) for the APC. The shift signals growing momentum for the ruling party ahead of the 2027 general election.
Federal minister Festus Keyamo praised Tinubu’s leadership following the defections, while former presidential aide Bashir Ahmad also expressed his approval online.
As political tides shift, party loyalty appears increasingly fragile in the countdown to 2027.
