PDP Plans Legal Action Against Oborevwori, Okowa, And Defectors Over Party Switch

Published April 29, 2025 at 11:01 PM

The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has directed its Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, to urgently initiate legal action challenging the defection of Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, former Vice-Presidential candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, and other PDP members in Delta State who recently joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

This move follows the significant political shift on April 23, 2025, when Governor Oborevwori, Okowa, and several prominent figures from the PDP’s Delta State chapter left the opposition party to align with the APC.

The PDP national leadership is determined to take legal action to reclaim its mandate, as these officials were initially elected under the party’s platform.

After the first National Working Committee (NWC) meeting of the year, Acting National Chairman, Amb Umar Damagum, reaffirmed the party’s intention to challenge the defection in court.

“We are ready to pursue legal action to reclaim what is rightfully ours. These individuals were elected on our platform, and we will ensure that justice prevails,” Damagum declared.

He also announced that Emma Ogidi, the Caretaker Chairman for the South-South zone, has been tasked with taking over the leadership structure in Delta State, seeking new party leaders while sidelining the existing leadership under Chief Dan Orbih, whose influence has been diminished by the defection.

The defection, which occurred following a closed-door meeting in Asaba, saw key figures, including Deputy Governor Monday Onyeme, state commissioners, local government chairmen, and grassroots leaders, join the APC. This political realignment, described as the “Hurricane Tinubu,” has shaken the PDP’s stronghold in Delta State, a region it had long dominated.

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