ASABA/Nigeria: In a dramatic political shift, all 22 members of the Delta State House of Assembly elected under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have formally defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), effectively making the Assembly a 100% APC-controlled legislature. The announcement was made at the resumption of plenary on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, by the Speaker , Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Dennis Guwor, who presented the individual letters of defection from the lawmakers.
According to Guwor, the mass defection was primarily triggered by what the lawmakers described as “instability in the national leadership of the PDP” and a deepening factional crisis within the South-South Zonal Executive of the party. He explained that the move was also in line with Section 109, subsection 1(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which permits elected officials to cross party lines in cases of division or crisis within their political party.
The Speaker praised the lawmakers’ decision, describing it as a result of “wide consultation across a broad spectrum of political stakeholders,” culminating in critical meetings held at the Government House and Cenotaph on April 23 and 28. He emphasized that the defection, led by Governor Sheriff Francis Orohwedor Oborevwori, was undertaken in the “overall best interest of Deltans” and as part of a strategic realignment with the Federal Government to attract greater development to the state.
In his remarks, Guwor hailed the Governor’s “uncommon courage and visionary leadership” and reaffirmed the full support of the Assembly. He urged his colleagues to remain united in working for the people of Delta State, asserting that the renewed partnership between the state and the federal government should be nurtured to yield immediate benefits.
While welcoming members back from the Easter break, the Speaker reiterated the House’s commitment to its legislative responsibilities, listing seven key laws recently passed and assented to by the Governor, including the Delta State Electric Power Sector Law and the Delta State Pet Control and Responsible Ownership Law. He called on all House Committees to conclude work on pending bills as the session draws to a close, maintaining that the Assembly remains focused on improving the welfare and security of Deltans.
