The political landscape of Delta State has undergone a seismic shift following the dramatic defection of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). This move, executed on April 28, 2025, has fundamentally altered the power dynamics in the oil-rich state, setting the stage for a fiercely competitive and unpredictable battle ahead of the 2027 general elections.
APC's Confident Yet Fragile Hold on Power
The APC now controls the state apparatus with Governor Oborevwori and boasts a formidable lineup of political godfathers, including former governors James Ibori, Emmanuel Uduaghan, and Ifeanyi Okowa. This incumbency advantage has led the party's leadership to speak with supreme confidence. Delta APC's Publicity Secretary, Valentine Onojeghuo, boldly declared that opposition parties no longer exist in the state and that the 2027 election is already settled in their favour.
However, beneath this projection of dominance lies significant discomfort. Political analysts note that the APC's strength is largely elite-driven and not organically rooted at the grassroots. Investigations reveal that many PDP members who defected alongside the governor have yet to formally register with the APC or integrate into its ward and unit structures. This creates a coalition held together more by access to power than by deep ideological commitment, making it potentially fragile.
PDP: The Fallen Iroko Struggles to Rise
The once-dominant PDP, which ruled Delta State uninterrupted for over two decades, is now fighting for its political life. Described by some pundits as "the fallen Iroko," the party has seen its visibility drastically wane, its structures hollowed out, and grassroots mobilisation become largely absent since the governor's defection. Party offices across the state are inactive, and loyalists are either silent or exploring other platforms.
Despite this bleak outlook, PDP leadership remains publicly optimistic. Emmanuel Ogidi, Chairman of the PDP South-South Zonal Committee, insists the party is "firmly alive" in Delta. He likened the PDP to an Iroko tree that may be shedding leaves but has deep roots, predicting a revival. The critical question is whether the party can reorganise, rebuild its machinery, and present a credible candidate before 2027, a task requiring urgent internal reconciliation and aggressive mobilisation.
ADC: The Emerging Wildcard and Protest Platform
Into this power vacuum steps the African Democratic Congress (ADC), positioning itself as a formidable protest platform. The party is capitalising on public discontent, elite fatigue, and voter frustration with the mainstream parties. At a recent stakeholders' meeting in Asaba, ADC leaders launched an aggressive statewide membership drive starting December 19, 2025.
Lawrence Emeka Ozegbe, a member of the party's Transition Committee, declared that the era of using poverty and patronage to manipulate Delta voters is over. He accused the dominant parties of presiding over underdevelopment despite huge federal allocations and internally generated revenue. Anthony Ominogho, another committee member, expressed confidence in ADC's ability to cause an upset in 2027, likening the contest to David versus Goliath. Significantly, the party has distanced itself from zoning debates, emphasising competence over sectional rotation for its governorship candidate.
The Road to 2027: Three Possible Scenarios
As the countdown to the polls begins, political analysts outline three broad scenarios for Delta State. The APC remains the front-runner, leveraging incumbency, state resources, and elite support, but its victory is contingent on maintaining internal cohesion and benefiting from voter apathy.
The PDP is a sleeping force with the potential for revival if it can quickly rebuild and tap into historical voter loyalty and nostalgia, especially among older demographics. The ADC represents the disruptive wildcard. Its success hinges on its ability to sustain current momentum, convert populist rhetoric into a solid statewide structure, and transform public anger into votes.
What is unequivocally clear is that Delta State politics is no longer a one-party affair. The emergence of ADC, the decline of PDP, and the uneasy dominance of APC suggest that the 2027 election may be the most competitive in the state's recent history. The outcome will ultimately depend on how effectively each party addresses the pressing realities of poverty, unemployment, and underdevelopment faced by the average Delta voter.
