The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is getting ready to go to court after many of its top leaders in Delta State left the party and joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).

This includes the state governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, his deputy Monday Onyeme, and former governor Ifeanyi Okowa. They officially moved to APC on April 23, along with several commissioners, local government chairmen, and many grassroots members.

After a long meeting at its Abuja headquarters, PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) asked the party’s legal adviser to begin legal steps to take back what it calls its “stolen mandate.” The party is upset by the large number of defections and sees it as a major threat to its future in Delta State.

PDP’s Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, said, “We can’t just let these defectors take our future. We will fight to get our mandate back through legal means.”

To rebuild its presence in Delta, the PDP dissolved all its local party structures in the state and asked Emma Ogidi, the South-South Zonal Chairman, to lead a reorganization.

As part of its recovery plan, the PDP accepted advice from its Governors’ Forum. The party will hold its next big meeting (National Executive Committee) on May 28 and a national convention from August 28 to 30, 2025.

Meanwhile, the APC celebrated the defections, calling it a major shift in Nigerian politics ahead of the 2027 elections. Vice President Kashim Shettima and APC Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje welcomed the new members.

Despite the loss, the PDP says the fight isn’t over. “We won’t give up Delta without a fight,” Damagum said.