The political terrain in Delta State has taken a turbulent turn as Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s dramatic defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has unleashed more chaos than cohesion within the ruling party, MONDAY OSAYANDE reports.
Rather than uniting the APC’s fractious structure, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s entry has deepened internal divisions, setting off fierce power tussles among entrenched factions and newcomers, and casting doubts over the party’s stability ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Confusion and uncertainty appear to be reigning supreme in the political landscape of Delta State, as the APC continues to falter, not due to a lack of resources or support, but fundamentally because of an absence of coherent leadership. Despite harvesting hordes of politicians from other political parties, the ruling party remains a fractured entity plagued by infighting, factionalism, and a glaring lack of strategic direction.
The mass defection of the governor to the APC, heralded as a strategic masterstroke, is not helping matters either. This is because the governor himself couldn’t unify and solidify the ruling party’s grip on power.
Since he defected, it seems that the party is wading in troubled waters, even deeper than he met it. Yes, rather than ushering in a new era of cohesion, it is pitching old guards against new entrants and leaving the party lurching under the weight of unresolved leadership crises.
Oborevwori, trying to mend fences, unambiguously made a declaration shortly after his transition into the APC that: “There is confusion and division within the APC in Delta, but with my emergence as governor, all factions must yield to my leadership. I don’t believe in any faction, whether the Omo-Agege or Keyamo faction. Everybody must queue, and we will unite the party to move this state forward.” It is a bold pronouncement, though, but what is currently on the ground is different, a nightmare, one that has not yet translated into reality.
The Guardian findings reveal that the internal wrangling continues unabated. Hence, the unfolding drama, which political observers expected to be a seamless merger of political forces, has instead birthed a more complex and volatile power play.
Despite Vice President Kashim Shettima’s unambiguous endorsement of Governor Oborevwori as the APC’s state leader on the defection day in Asaba, stating that it is “consistent with our party’s tradition and leadership structure across the federation,” Delta APC is now split between old loyalists of Senators Ovie Omo-Agege and that of former governor, James Ibori (the landlords) and the new wave of entrants from the PDP camp, spearheaded by Oborevwori and his political benefactor, former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who were classified as tenants. The result? A party trapped in a leadership limbo, with multiple factions jostling for control and no clear chain of command.
At the heart of the chaos lies Senator Omo-Agege, the former Deputy Senate President and the APC’s 2023 gubernatorial candidate in Delta. His towering political presence and leadership of the party in the South-South prior to the defection place him in direct conflict with Oborevwori’s claim to supremacy.
Political observers again note with reservations that Omo-Agege’s ambitions for 2027 remain alive, making him a formidable rival in both influence and intent. Omo-Agege’s camp, as it were, reportedly unsettled by the governor’s growing influence, appears unwilling to cede leadership to the newcomer, despite the party’s constitution and high-ranking endorsements. Their resistance has only intensified the turmoil in the broom family, with many viewing Oborevwori’s leadership bid as an attempt to hijack a structure built before he ever dreamed of coming into the party.
The so-called “mass movement” of PDP elements into the APC was aimed at forging a superstructure capable of delivering developmental dividends to the people of Delta. Instead, it has become a breeding ground for distrust and disenchantment. Even as Delta APC Publicity Secretary, Valentine Onojeghuo, themselves protégés of the old order, attempt to reiterate the governor’s rightful leadership, grassroots support remains fractured.
“The governor’s leadership is not subject to debate,” says Onojeghuo, citing Shettima’s declaration as binding and sacrosanct. But the reality on the ground paints a different picture. Discontent brews beneath the surface as Omo-Agege loyalists resist efforts to be politically displaced. The governor, meanwhile, has adopted a seemingly passive strategy, perhaps to buy time or avoid further inflaming tensions, but political analysts warn this could backfire.
Complicating matters further is the enigmatic stance of former Governor James Ibori. A political titan with significant sway, Ibori’s loyalties remain ambiguous in this unfolding drama. His long-standing estrangement from Okowa, who anointed Oborevwori as his successor, and his historic influence over Delta’s political compass make him a wildcard. Whichever direction he leans could drastically alter the balance of power.
The leadership tussle has spread like wildfire to all the senatorial districts. Worst hit is Delta North, where the Deputy Governor, Monday Onyeme, and Senator Ned Nwoko fight over who holds the mantle of party leadership in the district, threatening to deepen existing fissures within the party.
The intra-party fight in the Delta North Senatorial District unfolds at the Delta North meeting scheduled for June 14 at Nwoko’s private residence. The meeting, which was intended to consolidate the party’s position in the region, now appears to be a flashpoint for a high-stakes power struggle between two “elephants” claiming political legitimacy.
The Deputy Governor, Onyeme, via a recent statement issued by his Press Secretary, Fidelis Egugbo, has openly questioned Nwoko’s self-proclaimed leadership of the APC in Delta North. The statement argued, beyond comprehension, that historically, the role of political convener in Delta North has rested with the Deputy Governor.
Citing past administrations as precedent, Egugbo recalled how during the tenures of former Governors James Ibori and Emmanuel Uduaghan, political activities in Delta North were centrally convened by their respective deputies, Chief Benjamin Elue and the late Prof. Amos Utuama.
“Sir Monday Onyeme should now assume a similar unifying role within the APC and propose a private meeting with Senator Nwoko to prevent factionalism,” he said.
But the senator’s camp swiftly reacted and cautioned Onyeme to stand with one leg, at least for now. Nwoko, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the APC earlier in the year, is widely recognised by several party stakeholders as the highest-ranking APC figure in the district. This, his supporters argue, automatically places him at the helm of the party’s leadership in the region.
Egugbo’s comments, indeed, were bitter for Ned Nwoko loyalists to swallow. Within hours, the statement attracted strong reactions from key APC stakeholders. Dr Michael Nwoko, Chief of Staff to Senator Ned Nwoko, led the charge in rebutting what he described as misinformation. He clarified that the June 14 meeting is part of an established, bi-monthly rotational arrangement among Delta North’s federal constituencies, an APC tradition untouched by partisan defection or political ambition.
“Senator Nwoko is merely hosting his turn in the rotation. This is not a power contest,” said Dr. Nwoko. Eze Onwenna and Barth Ozah joined the chorus. Onwenna underscored that the meeting was sanctioned by the Delta North APC Chairman, Adizue Eluaka, not orchestrated by any single individual. Ozah, a former councillor, went further, challenging the very premise of Egugbo’s PDP-era comparisons. “Onyeme never hosted PDP meetings even when he was a member,” he noted, arguing that APC’s organisational structure should not be adjusted to accommodate traditions from a rival party.
Several voices, like King Ojuwa and Emma Eboh, have called for calm and clarity. They reminded all parties that the June 14 meeting was announced in advance and falls squarely within the APC’s established framework. They emphasised that meetings are organised by the party’s senatorial chairman, not by prominent individuals.
From the Labour Party (LP) comes a mockery of the mass defection, describing it as a sorry movement to the ruling APC.Chief Tony Ezeagwu, the LP’s South-South National Vice Chairman, minced no words when he lambasted the governor and his allies for what he described as a frivolous political spectacle. “It is a complete waste of resources for Oborevwori to spend a huge amount of money to officially defect to APC,” Ezeagwu said.
Visibly peeved by the ostentation that marked the event, Ezeagwu, who a few days ago lost one of his LP House of Representatives members, Ngozi Okolie, who represents Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency, to the same APC, said that the mass defection is less about ideology and more about the personal. He accused the defectors of prioritising personal gains over the welfare of the Delta people, characterising the move as a scramble for influence and immunity.
“Trust Nigerian politicians, no politician has the interest of the people at heart. It is all about personal interest.” The defection, which saw a significant collapse of the PDP structure in Delta into the APC, has created a power vacuum that LP now seeks to fill. Ezeagwu boldly declared LP as the sole opposition force left in the state and welcomed the development as an opportunity to consolidate their political foothold. “We are the only opposition in Delta State now. We just thank God that Governor Oborevwori and his PDP members made the blunder by defecting to APC,” he said.He, however, predicted instability within the newly bloated APC in Delta, warning of internal conflicts driven by clashing egos and unresolved past grievances.
“Definitely, there must be a lot of fighting in their new party. People from diverse backgrounds, coupled with those who left the APC earlier due to quarrels, are now coming back to join forces again. Expect more quarrels,” he remarked.
Referencing former APC National Chairman, and now a Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole’s infamous statement: “As soon as you join APC, your sins are forgiven,” Ezeagwu claimed the move to APC is a calculated escape route for embattled politicians seeking protection from accountability. “It’s just a shelter. They have gone to APC not for the people but for self-preservation,” he said.
As the dust settles, LP appears energised by the drama. While Ezeagwu stopped short of inviting the defectors to LP, he hinted at future realignments. “Almost 80 per cent of them who moved now will move back to other political parties. Let me not say precisely that they are coming to join LP, but PDP is now grounded in Delta and may never recover.”
One thing is certain. The outcome of this leadership struggle will go a long way in shaping the APC’s political fortunes in Delta State.