Though it had shown all the trappings for a while, nevertheless, it came like a bolt from the blue. Like the Stockholm syndrome, hitherto foes are now best of friends, developing positive feelings toward their former enemies and traducers and switching party loyalty. It reinforces the truism that politics is about self-interest. Self-interest is anything done to seek personal gain.

In Nigeria, politics is a game of survival and escape from the long arm of the law and for retaining power as an incumbent. As once stated by Senator Adams Oshiomole, once you switch to the ruling party, “your sins are forgiven”. Not only your sins. You will no longer be haunted by the prying eyes of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

On Wednesday, the entire PDP structure collapsed into the APC with Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, his deputy, members of his State Executive Council, the former governor and vice presidential candidate to Abubakar Atiku, in the 2023 general elections defecting from the PDP and pledged allegiance to the APC. The announcement was made after a caucus meeting of the party at the government House Asaba.

PDP leaders could be seen jubilating and singing the President Tinubu signature song of “On your mandate, we shall stand”. The new defectors will join their fore-runners, like the former Governor James Ibori, Senator Ned Nwoko and Hon Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, who had earlier switched loyalty to the APC. Since 1999, the state had been governed consistently by the PDP, winning about 100 per cent representation in the state and National Assembly.

The excuse being canvassed by the defectors is the state of affairs in the PDP. The PDP has failed to regain its rhythm since the loss of the 2023 presidential election. The rumoured interest of Alhaji Abubakar Atiku to contest again in 2027 has further disillusioned many party stakeholders who want him to take a back seat.

Unconfirmed speculations opine that all the states in the South-South zone may be lured into the APC. Joining the APC could be one of the conditions that would restore Governor Sim Fubara to office, following the state of emergency. Another would be his commitment to an agreement not to run for a second term in office.

Surely, the APC wave is cruising across Nigeria like a wild wind. The 2027 presidential election may be a straight fight between the South and the North. The body movement of the north is to terminate President Tinubu’s rule in 2027 for policies perceived as anti-north and the dominance of Tinubu relatives and women in governance.

The switch to the APC of these several political bigwigs is surprising because the party doesn’t seem to enjoy the popularity of the masses of the Nigerian people due to its reform agenda that has imposed huge hardships on the people.

A top member of the PDP announced the defection after a meeting lasting six hours. Manager stated, “All PDP members in the state, including the governor, former Governor Okowa, the Speaker, the state party chairman, all the local government chairmen and others, have agreed to move to the APC. “We cannot continue to be in a sinking boat,” he said.

The decision to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) followed extensive consultations with political stakeholders and was made in the interest of Delta State’s long-term development.

It is believed that the Governor and his troupe would be welcomed into the APC formally on Monday at a rally to be addressed by Vice President Kashim Shettima, among other bigwigs of the party. The governor wants a second term in office, and he believes only his alignment with the ruling party could guarantee his position. His predecessor, Ifeanyi Okowa, is also being investigated by the EFCC.

The Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr Aniagwu Charles, officially confirmed the governor’s defection and the collective decision of Delta PDP leaders and stakeholders to join the APC.

“There is a need for us to adjust our drinking patterns. And in adjusting that drinking pattern, we needed to make a decision that would further help to cement the development in our state, to build the court of law that has existed in our state, to further advance the cause of security and the welfare of our people, and, to a large extent, ensure that development in Delta is not truncated,” Aniagwu stated.

He continued, “In taking that decision, we concluded that leaving the PDP was very necessary for us to be able to collaborate and build a state that every Deltan will be proud of. We believe that what is happening and the state of the PDP are akin to that palm wine whose taste has changed, and there was a need for us to change the drinking party.

“By the grace of God, on Monday next week, we will be able to make a very big statement confirming that we are moving into the APC,” he said”

Earlier, the governor of Akwa Ibom State announced that his supporters would vote for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election because of the development that has been attracted from the federal government to the state. He declared that the Akwa Ibom political family, as a unit, would support the PDP at the state level and the APC in the presidential election. It is believed that he may still switch from the PDP to the APC. That leaves only Rivers State in the entire South-South geopolitical zone.

It is believed that those switching to the ruling party may want to hide under the powers wielded by the federal government, such as influence over the electoral management body, security agencies, and perceived favourable judgements from the judiciary for disputed poll outcomes. These factors could be responsible for the spread of the APC wave across Nigeria.