2027 Game Plan: Okpebholo, APC Take South-South by Storm as Delta PDP Leaders Defect

In a dramatic political sweep that signals a major realignment in Nigeria’s South-South region, Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has declared that both Edo and Delta States will lead the charge to secure President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
The declaration came on Saturday in Delta State as thousands of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members, including top-ranking political figures, officially defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a grand rally that may redefine the region’s political landscape.
The chief Press Secretary to the Governor Fred Itua in a statement on Saturday indicated that, Governor Okpebhplo standing alongside APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, and other party chieftains, welcomed Chiedu Ebie, Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), who led the Delta Unity Group into the APC, declaring the movement a “historic shift” in Delta politics.
The statement quoted the Governor to have explained,
“Just like Edo, Delta is ready for practical governance under the APC,” Okpebholo said. “Tinubu is rebuilding Nigeria’s foundation, and in 2027, we will deliver victory from the South-South.”
He continued, “My brother Chiedu Ebie knows when to make the right move, and now is Delta’s time to rise. This wave started in Edo; it’s rolling through Delta now.”
Dr. Ganduje, energized by the mass defection, said the APC now commands “over 60% of PDP’s former base in Delta,” highlighting recent gains such as three Senators, several House of Representatives members, and a growing number of state lawmakers.
“What we require now is unity — unity to win and unity to govern,” Ganduje stated. “The Delta Unity Group is a strong democratic force, and with them, we are heading straight to the Government House in 2027.”
Chiedu Ebie, leading the new wave, said the decision to join the APC was driven by the inclusive governance style of President Tinubu and a shared vision for a progressive Delta.
Earlier in the day, the delegation paid homage to the Dein of Agbor, Dr. Benjamin Ikenchukwu (Keagborekuzi I), who appealed to President Tinubu to prioritize national peace and security as a cornerstone for meaningful development.
The rally drew an impressive crowd and was attended by key figures, including Senator Ned Nwoko (Delta North), Hon. Teke Ibori-Swenu (Chair, House Committee on NDDC), and former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege.
This political storm in Delta mirrors recent shifts in Edo and signals what analysts are calling the APC’s “Southern Strategy” for 2027 — one that is gaining speed and defying old political maps.