Full List: Sitting Nigerian Governors Who Left PDP For APC

On Wednesday, the Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, became the most recent sitting governor to officially leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

This decision followed a private meeting held at the Government House in Asaba.

Over the past twelve years, several governors have made similar transitions from the PDP to the APC while still in office.

This publication reviews some of these governors who have switched parties during their tenure in recent years: Sheriff Oborevwori’s departure from the PDP to the APC surprised many, especially since his predecessor, Ifeanyi Okowa, also joined the ruling party.

This shift signifies a significant political change in Delta, a state that has been a stronghold of the PDP since 1999.

Dave Umahi, the former governor of Ebonyi State, transitioned to the APC from the PDP in November 2020 during his second term, citing the APC’s focus on infrastructure under then-President Muhammadu Buhari and the perceived marginalisation of the Southeast by the PDP as his motivations.
Bello Matawalle, the former governor of Zamfara State, switched from the PDP to the APC in June 2021, driven by political instability in Zamfara and a desire to form strategic alliances for maintaining stability and control.
Ben Ayade, the former governor of Cross River State, also defected to the APC from the PDP in May 2021, citing his intention to align with the federal government under President Buhari as a key reason for his departure from the PDP, with the goal of securing more development projects for Cross River State.

Aminu Tambuwal, the ex-governor of Sokoto State, transitioned from the PDP to the APC prior to the 2015 elections, only to rejoin the PDP in 2018.

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He has since been associated with a potential return to the APC while still serving in his position. Aliyu Wamakko, another former governor of Sokoto State, made a similar switch from the PDP to the APC in 2014 during his tenure, in anticipation of the 2015 general elections, which the APC ultimately won.

Abdulfatah Ahmed, the former governor of Kwara State, also departed from the PDP to join the APC in 2014, although he later returned to the PDP.

In related news, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of the ruling APC, announced that additional opposition governors are expected to join the party in preparation for the 2027 general elections.