Former Delta State Governor, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, is reportedly set to formally join the All Progressives Congress (APC), in what could become one of the most consequential political shifts in Delta State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
This move follows the earlier defection of his daughter, Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, who currently represents the Ethiope East/Ethiope West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
A reliable source and very close associate of the former governor confirms to The Trumpet that Ibori is expected to officially declare for the APC within the next two weeks, although a specific date has not yet been disclosed.
He said, “within the next two weeks you will hear that Ibori has joined the APC formally, that’s all I can tell you right now, I don’t want to preempt anything.”
The source also hinted that current Governor Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori may be weighing a move to the APC as well but is holding back due to a lack of assurance regarding an automatic governorship ticket.
Ibori’s defection, long speculated, appears imminent, especially following his daughter’s public switch to the APC in December 2024. At her declaration rally in Oghara, she made it clear that she was aligning fully with the APC, saying, “Now, they will understand that the lightning and wind that are coming to destroy PDP are here. PDP is dead and buried in Ethiope Federal Constituency.”
Chief James Ibori’s re-emergence on the political scene could realign power structures not just in Delta but nationally. Ibori, a close ally of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is part of the respected “Class of 1999 Governors” and is often referred to as its “chancellor.”
He is believed to have unfettered access to the President, and sources suggest a presidential pardon process is already underway, which could clear the way for his full return to frontline politics.
Ibori has been in a cold war with former governor of Delta State and political godson, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, particularly since Okowa declared support for Sheriff Oborevwori over Ibori’s preferred candidate, David Edevbie, during the 2022 PDP gubernatorial primaries.
With Ibori’s anticipated move and the strengthening of the APC’s structure through high-profile defections and internal realignments, Delta State is poised for a major political showdown.
The once-dominant PDP now faces a reinvigorated opposition that is better organized, better connected, and increasingly popular among key political stakeholders.
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Adding to the growing momentum of the opposition is the fact that all three senators representing Delta State at the National Assembly are now members of the APC, following the defection of Senator Ned Nwoko earlier this year.
This legislative dominance marks a major shift in political influence and underscores the APC’s growing foothold in a state traditionally considered a PDP stronghold.
Another strategic gain for the APC, is the return of Chief Great Ogboru, a perennial political heavyweight and former governorship candidate of the party in the 2019 election. His re-entry, combined with Ibori’s imminent defection and the consolidation of the state’s senatorial representation under the APC banner, positions the party as a formidable contender in the 2027 general elections.
As the 2027 general elections approach, the APC’s growing presence, powered by strategic defections, experienced leadership, and legislative dominance, signals that the battle for Delta State’s political future is far from settled.
