PDP Chairman Damagum Breaks Silence on Delta Gov, Okowa’s Defection, “We Gave Them Everything”

• PDP acting chairman Umar Damagum has described Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s defection as unfortunate, given the party's support for him and his predecessor, Ifeanyi Okowa
• Damagum stated that the 2027 election will be decided by Nigerians, not by the number of governors a party controls, stressing it will be “APC versus Nigerians”
• Despite the gale of defections in recent days, Damagum maintained that the PDP remains resilient and will continue to stand strong

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Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.

Umar Damagum, acting national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has described recent defections from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta state to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as unfortunate.

Damagum spoke on Thursday, April 24, 2025, during the presentation of a certificate of return to Ezenwafor Jude, the party’s governorship candidate in Anambra.

Recall that Sheriff Oborevwori, the governor of Delta state, dumped the leading opposition party, PDP, and defected to the ruling APC.

Legit.ng reported that the governor joined the APC alongside his predecessor and PDP vice presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Ifeanyi Okowa.

In an interview on Thursday, Nasarawa state governor, Abdullahi Sule, also declared that more governors would defect to the ruling APC.

Sule said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's inclusive leadership style and developmental projects across states, including non-APC-controlled regions, are driving increased support.

2027 will be APC vs Nigerians, says Damagum

Addressing the development, Damagum bemoaned Oborevwori’s defection but noted that the outcome of the 2027 election will be determined by Nigerians, not by the number of governors a party controls.

The PDP national chairman said it will be up to Nigerians, who are bearing the brunt of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policies, to decide whether he remains in office or is voted out in the 2027 general elections, TheCable reported.

“If there’s any state that should not have taken this path, it is Delta.”

“We gave them everything — support for the governor and even the former governor (Ifeanyi Okowa), our vice presidential candidate in 2023. We least expected this action from them.

“This election in 2027 is not about how many governors you have or how many leaders. It is about Tinubu and Nigerians,” Damagum said.

Continuing, Damagum added that the party has weathered even more serious challenges in the past and is still standing strong.

Read more about politicians, defections here:

• 2027 election: Saraki breaks silence on Okowa, Oborevwori’s defection, “Let them go”
• Breaking: Former Speaker of Kano state dumps NNPP, returns to APC ahead of 2027 election

PDP governor breaks silence on APC defection

Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Akwa Ibom state governor Umo Eno denied rumours of his planned defection from the PDP to the APC.

Governor Eno earlier endorsed President Tinubu and Senate President Godswill Akpabio for second terms but described this as a strategic alliance.

The state commissioner for information, Aniekan Umanah, gave this clarification amid contention about the governor's latest actions.

Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.