BREAKING: Oborevwori, Other Sitting Governors Who Dumped One Party for Another, Full List Emerges
Oborevwori’s move isn’t the first time a sitting governor has changed political camps and he likely won’t be the last.
As reported by The Punch, over the years, several governors have crossed party lines while still in office.
In light of the above development, Legit.ng compiled a list of sitting governors who defected from one party to another.
See list below:
Sheriff Oborevwori
The Delta state governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, his deputy Monday Onyeme, and commissioners, have defected from the PDP to the ruling APC.
Legit.ng reports that their defection was announced at a press briefing in Asaba on Wednesday, April 23.
Oborevwori’s defection to the APC is seen as a significant blow to the PDP because no other political party has governed the state since 1999.
Aminu Tambuwal
The former Sokoto governor first left the PDP for the APC while serving as Speaker of the House of Representatives.
In 2018, he returned to the PDP while still governor and aimed for the presidential ticket, which he lost to Atiku Abubakar, who also left the APC for the PDP.
Tambuwal wasn’t the only Sokoto governor to switch parties.
Others include:
Attahiru Bafarawa
While governor of Sokoto state, Attahiru Bafarawa, a chieftain of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) moved to the PDP.
But in 2015, he announced his resignation from the PDP.
Aliyu Wamakko
Aliyu Wamakko, while he was governor of Sokoto state, dumped the PDP and joined the APC.
Abdulfatah Ahmed
While governor of Kwara State, Ahmed made headlines for his political switches. He left PDP for APC in 2013. He returned to PDP in 2018.
Boni Haruna
Boni Haruna, served as the governor of Adamawa state from 1999 to 2007.
While in office, Haruna defected from the PDP to the Action Congress.
Ikedi Ohakim
Ikedi Ohakim also served as the governor of Imo state.
While in office in 2007, Ohakim switched from the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA to the PDP.
Murtala Nyako
Nyako ruled Adamawa state from 2007 to 2008. He left the APC and moved to the PDP.
Rochas Okorocha
Elected Imo State governor in 2011, Okorocha defected from the All Progressives Grand Alliance to the APC during his time in office.
Other are:
Mahmuda Shinkafi (Zamfara): ANPP to PDP
Bello Matawalle (Zamfara): PDP to APC
Also, states like Benue, Ondo, Rivers, Cross River, Edo, Kano, Kebbi, and Jigawa have all experienced political defections by sitting governors at various times.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that Sheriff Oborevwori, governor of Delta state, and his predecessor Ifeanyi Okowa, defected from the PDP to the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections in Nigeria.
A clip of Governor Oborevwori being serenaded with ‘On Your Mandate’, the popular political tune dedicated to President Bola Tinubu, has since gone viral on social media.
Legit.ng reports that Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development, was among the notable Nigerians who quickly reacted to the defections.
Gov Eno’s defection to APC not feasible – Commissioner
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Akwa Ibom state governor Umo Eno denied rumours of a planned defection from the PDP to the APC.
Governor Eno earlier endorsed President Tinubu and Senate President Godswill Akpabio for second terms, but has described the move as a strategic alliance ahead of the 2027 election.
The state commissioner for information, Aniekan Umanah, gave this clarification on Wednesday.
