Labour Party 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi has rejected fears that Nigeria might slide into a one-party state because some governors have switched parties. Speaking in Abuja, Obi said it would be wrong to think a whole region can be “captured” simply because a governor defects. “The people will decide where to go, not governors or senators. No party will capture or win any state just because it has a governor,” he said, stressing his faith in voters’ power and the durability of democratic choice.
Obi addressed the recent high-profile defections directly, noting the moves by Enugu Governor Peter Mbah and Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri, and stressing that leaders must be free to make their political decisions. “Peter Mbah is a good friend of mine, and I believe that as governor, he must have taken his decision based on his own political views and calculations,” Obi said, underlining that personal relationships and local calculations often shape such choices. He framed defections as political acts that do not, by themselves, decide the fate of entire states.
On the larger charge that a region, particularly the South-East could be ‘captured’ by a dominant party, Obi was blunt: that idea belongs to Nigeria’s authoritarian past. “As for the alleged plot to capture the South-East, we are not in a military time when you capture people,” he said. Obi argued that democratic leadership depends on persuasion and performance, not coercion or the mere movement of high officeholders between parties.
He also warned that political realignments are not substitutes for good governance. “The government needs to do more if it wants the people to support it,” Obi said, calling on public officials to focus on policies that improve daily life — better schools, healthcare, jobs and security rather than counting defections as political victories. In his view, sustainable loyalty flows from results delivered to citizens, not from political maneuvering.
Obi’s comments come amid a wave of defections this year that has reshaped parts of Nigeria’s political map and stirred debate about party strength ahead of future elections. While some analysts see the moves as strengthening the ruling party’s reach, Obi used the moment to push for issue-based politics and civic engagement, urging party leaders and citizens alike to judge politics by outcomes rather than headlines. “You are a leader. You tend to do the right things for them to follow you,” he said, emphasizing service over spectacle.
Closing his remarks, Obi repeated his core message: the ballot box, not officeholders’ party labels, remains the final arbiter. “No party will capture or win any state just because it has a governor,” he said again, urging patience and vigilance from voters who worry about one-party dominance. He urged citizens to hold leaders accountable at the polls and to keep insisting that governance deliver tangible improvements for all Nigerians.
Four governors who defected from PDP to APC this year
1) Umo Eno — Governor of Akwa Ibom State
Umo Bassey Eno is a businessman, pastor and politician who was elected governor of Akwa Ibom on the PDP platform and sworn in on 29 May 2023. He previously served as Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources and founded a ministry and several private businesses.
Governor Eno announced his defection from the PDP to the APC on June 6, 2025 after months of speculation and local consultations. He presented the move as a strategic alignment intended to enhance cooperation with the federal government and accelerate development projects for Akwa Ibom. Local reports covered his formal announcement at Government House, Uyo.
In speeches and briefings, Eno framed his switch as pragmatic aimed at “connecting Akwa Ibom to the centre” for better access to federal resources. His office told appointees that those unwilling to join the APC could step aside, signalling an expectation of political unity in his administration after the move. Reactions were mixed: some local stakeholders welcomed potential federal cooperation while opposition figures warned of political consequences for party pluralism in the state.
Eno’s defection was one of several high-profile switches this year that have realigned power balances in parts of southern Nigeria and raised questions about party cohesion ahead of 2027. Analysts noted that gubernatorial defections often trigger cascading moves among state officials, local party executives and legislators something observers tracked closely in Akwa Ibom after Eno’s move.
2) Peter Mbah — Governor of Enugu State
Dr. Peter Mbah, a businessman and lawyer who served in Enugu state public service roles (including finance and economic development portfolios), won the Enugu governorship in 2023. He held previous appointments such as state Chief of Staff and commissioner-level roles, combining private sector experience with public service.
Governor Mbah publicly announced his defection from the PDP to the APC in mid-October 2025. The announcement was made from Government House, Enugu, and was widely covered in national outlets; it included many members of his executive council and several local PDP officials who also switched allegiance.
In his broadcast remarks, Mbah said the move followed careful reflection and consultation and argued it would allow Enugu to better “connect to the centre” and access partnerships for development projects. He framed the decision as pragmatic and focused on governance outcomes rather than partisan rivalry. Observers noted he emphasised continuity of development programmes as the rationale for the switch.
The defection received immediate national attention because Enugu is a key South-East state; commentators debated whether the move signalled a broader erosion of PDP influence in the region or a short-term political calculation by Mbah. The PDP expressed disappointment and vowed to regroup, while APC leaders welcomed the addition and framed it as momentum for the ruling party ahead of 2027. Analysts emphasised that the long-term electoral impact would depend on governance performance and voters’ response at the polls.
3) Douye Diri — Governor of Bayelsa State
Douye Diri has served as Governor of Bayelsa State since 2020 and previously represented Bayelsa Central in the Senate. He came to office after a contested 2019 election which eventually led to his swearing-in in 2020. Diri has a long career in Bayelsa politics and public service.
Governor Diri resigned from the PDP and moved toward the APC in October 2025, following a period of political negotiations and the regional pattern of defections. His decision was announced from Bayelsa Government House, and reports show the move was followed by some lawmakers and local party figures.
Diri framed the change as part of efforts to speed development and ensure Bayelsa secures federal attention. Supporters argued the move could attract more federal projects; critics warned it weakened opposition space in the oil-producing Niger Delta and could deepen intra-state political tensions. The state’s political class split in immediate reactions, with PDP loyalists criticising the timing and APC welcoming the addition.
Bayelsa, as an oil-producing state, has strategic importance; a governor’s party shift therefore carries symbolic and material weight. Diri’s defection added momentum to a cluster of southern defections that analysts say could influence inter-party negotiations and local alignments ahead of national campaigns. Observers flagged the need to watch whether voters follow governors’ moves at the ballot box or punish perceived opportunism.
4) Sheriff Oborevwori — Governor of Delta State
Sheriff Francis Oborevwori, a grassroots politician who rose through local government and the Delta State House of Assembly (where he was Speaker), became Delta State Governor after winning the 2023 election and was sworn in on 29 May 2023. He holds degrees in political science and has a long record of constituency work and philanthropy in Delta State.
Governor Oborevwori publicly defected from the PDP to the APC in April 2025 (announced in April and widely reported), an event marked by high-profile welcomes from APC leaders including public endorsements and state party realignments. The state government’s communications and national outlets covered the ceremony and subsequent statements by both Oborevwori and national APC leaders.
Oborevwori described the defection as a strategic decision to fast-track Delta’s development through stronger ties with the federal government and to position the state for larger projects. His team framed the move as putting Delta first rather than purely partisan politics. The governor and party leaders called it a “political tsunami” that reshaped Delta’s political landscape.
The defection included not only the governor but also senior PDP figures in the state (including former governor Ifeanyi Okowa in some reports), producing a major realignment in Delta politics. Supporters welcomed the prospect of improved federal cooperation; critics warned the move weakened opposition presence and raised questions about democratic competitiveness. The switch has been followed by party-level endorsements and local APC consolidation.
