The Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Dennis Guwor, alongside 21 other lawmakers, officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday.
The mass defection, confirmed by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), has effectively turned the Delta State Assembly into a one-party legislature, with the remaining seven members already belonging to the APC.
Speaker Guwor announced the defection during the resumption of plenary after the Easter break, stating that the decision followed extensive consultations with constituents and political stakeholders across the state.
He cited internal crises within the PDP’s national leadership and divisions in the South-South zonal executive as key reasons for the move.
According to him, the defection aligns with Section 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which allows lawmakers to switch parties under conditions of a fractured political structure.
Guwor emphasised that the shift was in the best interest of Delta State, enabling stronger collaboration with President Bola Tinubu’s federal government for accelerated development.
The Speaker praised Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for his “courageous and visionary leadership” in aligning the state with the APC-led federal government.
He noted that the defection was formalised after a stakeholders’ meeting on April 23, followed by an official reception on April 28 at the Government House and Cenotaph in Asaba.
Following the announcement, the majority leader, Emeka Nwaobi, moved a motion to adopt the defection letters, which was unanimously approved by a voice vote. Ferguson Onwo (APC-Isoko South II) seconded the motion.
Nwaobi later told journalists that the PDP’s instability at the national and regional levels necessitated the move to the APC.