The political landscape in Delta State, Nigeria, is undergoing a profound and contentious realignment, marked by internal strife within the All Progressives Congress (APC).
What began as a strategic influx of defectors has evolved into a full-blown identity crisis for the party’s foundational members, threatening its cohesion as the 2027 elections loom.
At the heart of this turmoil is the mass defection of “Old PDP” (People’s Democratic Party) heavyweights into the APC ranks, most notably Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, who switched allegiances in a move that has reshaped the party’s power dynamics.
This shift has effectively diluted the influence of the “Old APC” faithful, the pioneer members who built and sustained the party through years of opposition struggles, only to now find themselves relegated to the fringes.
The narrative of systemic disenfranchisement among these veteran loyalists is gaining traction, fueled by recent events that underscore their exclusion.
Following the ward, local government, and state congresses, the “Old PDP” faction has orchestrated what many describe as a hostile takeover of the party’s administrative machinery.
Original party stalwarts have been systematically purged from key leadership roles, sparking widespread disenchantment and vocal protests of marginalization.
For instance, groups like the APC Delta North Coalition for Equity (DNCE) have publicly decried the “continued marginalisation of pioneer and loyal APC members from key decision-making processes and appointments,” warning that such exclusion “breeds discontent and undermines loyalty.”
A pivotal flashpoint was the recent Delta APC state congress held at the Cenotaph in Asaba, where Chief Solomon Arenyeka emerged as the new state chairman through a consensus arrangement.
While the party officially hailed the event as a model of unity, dismissing reports of crisis as “speculative journalism” and emphasizing the integration of “long-standing members and new entrants,” the reality on the ground tells a different story.
Prominent figures, including former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege, Senator Ned Nwoko, and Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu (daughter of former Governor James Ibori), boycotted the proceedings, exposing deep rifts and fueling speculation of an impending factional split.
Sources within the party attribute the boycott to feelings of being sidelined in the planning and execution, with some labeling the congress a “big joke.”
Despite their unwavering historical loyalty, enduring political challenges without defecting the “Old Guard” remains shut out from the corridors of power.
The Oborevwori administration has yet to implement a truly inclusive governance model, leaving these pioneers without meaningful patronage, appointments, or influence in state affairs.
As one coalition leader, Chief Alex Ikpeazu, lamented: “We have been in the party for years without defecting, yet we have not benefitted from the party we diligently formed.
“We do not want those who joined later to override us.”
This sentiment echoes broader concerns that the influx of PDP defectors has prioritized newcomers over the institutional memory and sacrifices of the originals, eroding the party’s foundational ethos.
The result is a total eclipse of influence for the “Old APC,” who now occupy a precarious “no-man’s land” devoid of leverage in party leadership and absent from government patronage.
This limbo has prompted calls for urgent reforms, including zoning the party chairmanship to Delta North to foster equity, and deliberate efforts to integrate pioneer members into governance structures across the state.
The central question lingers: What is the endgame for these displaced loyalists?
Without a robust reconciliation framework such as the one advocated by the DNCE, which urges Governor Oborevwori to “consider old APC members in his government” and ensure conflict-free congresses the party risks total internal implosion.
As Delta APC positions itself for expansion and electoral success in 2027, ignoring these grievances could alienate a critical base, transforming a once-unified force into fractured factions adrift from the political mainstream.
The path forward demands not just rhetoric, but actionable inclusivity to heal the divide and secure the party’s future.
