Ibori will join APC soon, says Oborevwori

Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has expressed optimism about former Governor James Ibori joining the All Progressives Congress (APC) following his own recent defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Oborevwori made the statement on Tuesday during a vigil mass held at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, Otu-Jeremi, in Ughelli South Local Government Area.

The governor, who officially defected to the APC on April 23 alongside other top PDP figures in Delta, hinted that more political heavyweight crossovers could be on the horizon with Ibori, a long-standing influence in Delta politics, being a key figure in focus.

The event was in honour of the late Amos Utuama, former deputy governor of the state.

Utuama, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), died aged 77. He served as deputy governor of the state between May 2007 and May 2015.

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“We can only say the truth. If you are sentimental, the family will break, the centre cannot hold,” Oborevwori said.

“I didn’t want to speak here, but our bishop said ‘speak, so people will hear’.

“So that when our leader leaves here and goes home, you will see your (political) family, today is scattered, and when you go to Abuja, you won’t speak in different voices.

“You are speaking here, other people are speaking here, so you will sleep well. It is now the time for you to lead us well.

“You know, you must talk to your elders and seek counsel from the elders.

“When you are leading your children, some are in APC, some are in Labour Party, some are here, and I asked him (Ibori), ‘when is he going to join us?’ And I know he will join us very soon in APC. I will receive our leader in Jesus name.”

Addressing Ibori, the governor said: “You have created a big family, and the family needs to be united.”

In December 2024, Erhriatake Ibori-Suenu, daughter of the former governor and house of representatives member, defected from the PDP to the APC.

On Sunday, Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development, announced that the APC structure in Delta is now fully under Oborevwori’s control.