FULL LIST: Oborevwori, other sitting governors who dumped one party for another
Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, on Wednesday, officially dumped the Peoples Democratic Party and joined the All Progressives Congress.
Oborevwori’s move isn’t the first time a sitting governor has changed political camps and he likely won’t be the last.
Over the years, several governors have crossed party lines while still in office.
PUNCH Online has compiled a list of sitting governors who defected from one party to another.
See list below:
Sheriff Oborevwori
The latest on this growing list, Oborevwori, won the 2023 governorship election under the PDP.
On Wednesday, he was officially received into the APC by top party leaders.
In a press briefing, Senator Ebiowou Manager and Information Commissioner Aniagwu Charles confirmed the governor’s defection, describing it as a move with serious implications for 2027.
Aminu Tambuwal
The former Sokoto governor first left the PDP for the APC while serving as Speaker of the House of Representatives.
In 2018, he returned to the PDP while still governor and aimed for the presidential ticket, which he lost to Atiku Abubakar, who also left the APC for the PDP.
Tambuwal wasn’t the only Sokoto governor to switch parties.
Others include:
Attahiru Bafarawa: All Nigeria People’s Party to PDP
Aliyu Wamakko: PDP to APC
While governor of Kwara State, Ahmed made headlines for his political switches. He left PDP for APC in 2013. He returned to PDP in 2018
Boni Haruna
Governor of Adamawa State from 1999 to 2007, Haruna also defected from PDP to AC while in office.
Ikedi Ohakim
Governor of Imo State in 2007, Ohakim switched from the Progressive Peoples Alliance to the PDP.
Murtala Nyako
Nyako ruled Adamawa State from 2007 to 2008. He left the APC and moved to the PDP.
Rochas Okorocha
Elected Imo State governor in 2011, Okorocha defected from the All Progressives Grand Alliance to the APC during his time in office.
Other are:
Mahmuda Shinkafi (Zamfara): ANPP to PDP
Bello Matawalle (Zamfara): PDP to APC
Also, states like Benue, Ondo, Rivers, Cross River, Edo, Kano, Kebbi, and Jigawa have all experienced political defections by sitting governors at various times.
