Governor says move to APC is about unity, development, and restoring the original taste of Delta’s political future.
By IDNN Political Affairs Desk | April 23, 2025
[ASABA] — Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has spoken publicly for the first time since announcing his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying the move was motivated by the need to preserve political unity, security, and development in the state.
In a statement conveyed by Charles Aniagwu, the state’s Commissioner for Information, the governor said the PDP in Delta has “lost its flavour” and can no longer serve the aspirations of Deltans.
“The PDP is like that palm wine whose taste has changed. We had to change the drinking pattern,” Aniagwu quoted the governor as saying.
Unanimous Decision by Party Stakeholders
Oborevwori claimed the defection was not a personal project but a consensus decision by PDP stakeholders in the state. According to him, party elders and leaders agreed that exiting the PDP was the only route left to safeguard the state’s political relevance and cohesion.
“This decision has been taken unanimously. By next week Monday, we’ll make a major political statement as we step fully into the APC,” the governor’s camp said.
Why the PDP “Lost Its Flavour” in Delta
Governor Oborevwori, elected on the PDP platform in 2023, hinted that internal fractures and stagnation within the party forced his hand. He believes the APC now offers the right platform for strategic collaboration with the federal government, especially in the areas of security infrastructure, rural development, and economic empowerment.
“Politics is local. We’re moving to collaborate with our kith and kin and build the Delta we can all be proud of.”
Reactions and Implications
The governor’s justification has already drawn mixed reactions. While APC loyalists in the South-South have welcomed the move, some PDP grassroots supporters have accused Oborevwori of “betraying the mandate of the people”.
Political watchers believe the defection is part of a larger national realignment as power blocs begin to reposition for the 2027 general elections.
“This isn’t about ideology—it’s pure strategy,” said Prof. Tony Odili, a political analyst at Delta State University. “We should expect more governors to take similar exits.”
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A Thought-Provoking Close: Realignment or Reinvention?
Oborevwori’s metaphor about the “changed taste of palm wine” may seem humorous, but it cuts to the heart of a political truth: loyalty in Nigerian politics is fluid, and often dictated by perceived relevance, not ideology.
The bigger question is: will this defection deliver the unity and development he claims to seek? Or will it simply reinforce a cycle where power rotates without reform?
As Deltans and Nigerians await the “big statement” next Monday, one thing is certain—the game has changed, but the taste may remain the same unless governance, not just political symbols, evolves.
