Delta House Speaker, 21 other PDP members decamp to APC

The Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly (DTHA), Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, along with 21 other former members of the PDP elected into the DTHA, has officially decamped to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

They cited the realignment of political stakeholders across the state for their action.

The decampment of the 22 lawmakers has effectively turned the Delta State House of Assembly into a one-party legislature, as the remaining seven members were originally elected on the ticket of the APC.

Announcing the development on Tuesday, May 6, 2015, during the resumption of plenary after the Easter break, the Speaker stated that the decision was the result of extensive consultations with their constituents and political leaders in the state.

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He emphasized that the move aligned with Section 109 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

While expressing appreciation to members for their contributions so far, Speaker Guwor urged the House to ensure the completion of all pending bills as the second legislative session was approaching its terminus.

He noted that the political shift towards the APC was in response to the realignment of stakeholders and the desire to align with the federal government under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.

“The mass defection of members of the Peoples Democratic Party, led by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, to the All Progressives Congress was made in the overall interest of Deltans and the state,” the Speaker said.

He explained that the decision followed extensive consultations held on April 23 and 28, 2025, at the Government House and the Cenotaph, respectively.

“We are fully committed to partnering with the Federal Government to deliver greater development to Deltans,” he added.

“On behalf of the House, I commend the courage and visionary leadership of our Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, in making this strategic and timely decision.

“As a legislative body, we stand with His Excellency in this endeavour. This renewed partnership between the state and federal government must be supported and allowed to flourish so that we can begin to enjoy its benefits in the shortest possible time.”

He informed the House that he had received twenty-two letters (including his own) notifying of the change of party affiliation from the PDP to the APC.

The decampment, he said, was driven by instability within the PDP’s national leadership and factional divisions within the South-South Zonal Executive Committee, leading to internal conflicts and disunity within the party.

Citing Section 109(1)(g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria ( 1999 (as amended), the Speaker affirmed the constitutional basis for the decampment.

“With this action, the Delta State House of Assembly is now composed entirely of members from the All Progressives Congress. We thank our constituents for endorsing this progressive course of action,” he concluded.

A motion to adopt the letters of party change was moved by the Majority Leader, Hon. Emeka Nwaobi, and seconded by Hon. Ferguson Onwo, who represents Isoko South II.

Earlier in the session, Speaker Guwor read a letter from Governor Oborevwori requesting the repeal and re-enactment of the College of Education, Warri, Law of 2008 and the Delta State College of Education, Mosogar, Law of 2016, to consolidate them under the Delta State Colleges of Education Law, 2025.

The proposed amendment seeks to create a uniform operational framework and enhance the educational system in the state.

The bill is scheduled for its first reading at the next sitting.

A motion to adjourn the House until Wednesday, May 7, 2025, was moved by the Majority Leader, Hon. Emeka Nwaobi, and seconded by Hon. Augustine Uroye, who represents Warri South I.

Speaking to journalists after the plenary, the Majority Leader, Nwaobi, reiterated that the defection was prompted by the crisis within the PDP.

“Our decision was based on the instability at the national level and the factionalization at the South-South level. Consequently, we chose to move to the ruling All Progressives Congress, in accordance with Section 109 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended,” he said