We Joined APC Willingly!” – Delta, Akwa Ibom Governors Break Silence On Sh*cking Defection

The Governors of Delta and Akwa Ibom States, Sheriff Oborevwori and Umo Eno, have publicly defended their decisions to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). They emphasized that their move was entirely voluntary and aimed at securing the best interests of their respective states.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Their clarification follows allegations by PDP chieftain Kola Ologbondiyan, who claimed on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily that PDP governors were being “harassed and forced” to join the APC. Ologbondiyan, a former PDP National Publicity Secretary, suggested that governors under the PDP platform were under intense pressure to defect.

Referring to the political crisis in Rivers State, Ologbondiyan stated, “I think the takeaway for the PDP in all this is that its governors are being harassed and humiliated. Whether they admit it or not, many are being coerced into abandoning the PDP for the APC, the party of President Bola Tinubu.”

In response, Governor Oborevwori, through his Chief Press Secretary, Festus Ahon, told Punch that the decision to join the APC was a strategic one. “Nobody forced us into APC,” he said. “We joined for the sake of Deltans and to bring meaningful development to the state. Delta has been in the opposition since 2015. We can’t afford to remain there. Aligning with the federal government is in the best interest of our people.”

Similarly, the APC’s Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, dismissed Ologbondiyan’s remarks as “insulting and speculative.” He challenged him to provide evidence, adding, “Saying they were forced suggests these governors lack the autonomy or courage to choose what’s best for their states. That’s disrespectful. If he has proof, let him present it. Otherwise, he’s simply undermining democracy.”

Ibrahim also claimed that the wave of defections reflected growing confidence in President Tinubu’s leadership, citing unprecedented federal support. “Governors have never received the level of funding they’re getting now. It’s all thanks to the reforms implemented under this administration,” he said.

Retired Group Captain Sam Ewang, a former Military Administrator of Ogun and Rivers States, echoed this sentiment, attributing the defections to internal issues within the PDP and pressing local realities. “The PDP’s internal challenges and the needs of the people are pushing governors to make these decisions. For example, in Akwa Ibom, Governor Umo Eno consulted extensively, and the consensus was to exit the PDP to avoid future disappointment,” he stated.

However, not everyone agrees. Tom Fredfish, a PDP stalwart in Akwa Ibom, criticized the defections, accusing the governors of pursuing personal political interests. “No one can be forced out of a party,” he argued. “Those who left did so out of greed and an ambition for political power—not in the interest of the people.”