By Sunday Apah
The Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, has officially announced his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) alongside twenty-one other former members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
This significant political realignment among lawmakers comes as part of broader changes within the state’s political landscape.
With this shift, the Delta State House of Assembly has now become a one-party body, as only seven members, who were originally elected under the APC banner, remain in the assembly.
During the resumption of plenary on Tuesday following the Easter break, Speaker Guwor explained that their collective decision was reached after thorough discussions with their constituents and influential political figures across the state.
He affirmed that this transition adheres to Section 109 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
Guwor expressed gratitude to his colleagues for their contributions thus far and urged them to prioritize the passage of pending legislation as the current legislative session draws to a close.
He highlighted that the decision to join the APC reflects the necessity of unifying with the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
“The mass exodus from the PDP, steered by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, to the APC is ultimately in the best interests of the people of Delta State,” the Speaker remarked.
He further described how extensive consultations held on April 23 led up to a formal gathering on April 28, 2025, where the decision was publicly affirmed.
“We are dedicated to collaborating with the Federal Government to ensure significant development for our constituents,” he stated.
On behalf of the assembly, he commended Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for his decisive and forward-thinking leadership in this pivotal move.
“Our legislative body wholeheartedly supports the Governor in this initiative. It is vital that this renewed cooperation between the state and the Federal Government is nurtured to yield benefits for our people as swiftly as possible.”
Guwor informed members of the assembly that he had received notifications of party affiliation changes from twenty-two lawmakers, including himself, formally declaring their shift from PDP to APC.
He attributed this defection to ongoing turmoil within the PDP’s national leadership and the factional strife evident in the South-South Zonal Executive Committee, which has caused disunity within the party.
Reiterating the constitutional justification for their actions, the Speaker cited Section 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
“With this transition, the Delta State House of Assembly is now exclusively composed of members from the APC. We appreciate our constituents for supporting this progressive direction.”
A motion to formally adopt the letters of party affiliation changes was introduced by the Majority Leader, Hon. Emeka Nwaobi, and seconded by Hon. Ferguson Onwo, representing Isoko South II.
After the plenary session, Majority Leader Nwaobi emphasized that their decision to defect was a direct result of the internal conflicts within the PDP.
“Our choice stemmed from the instability at the national level and the factionalism at the regional level. Thus, we opted to align ourselves with the ruling All Progressives Congress, following Section 109 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended,” he concluded.Delta Speaker, 21 PDP Members Switch Allegiance to APC
By Sunday Apah
The Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, has officially announced his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) alongside twenty-one other former members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
This significant political realignment among lawmakers comes as part of broader changes within the state’s political landscape.
With this shift, the Delta State House of Assembly has now become a one-party body, as only seven members, who were originally elected under the APC banner, remain in the assembly.
During the resumption of plenary on Tuesday following the Easter break, Speaker Guwor explained that their collective decision was reached after thorough discussions with their constituents and influential political figures across the state.
He affirmed that this transition adheres to Section 109 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
Guwor expressed gratitude to his colleagues for their contributions thus far and urged them to prioritize the passage of pending legislation as the current legislative session draws to a close.
He highlighted that the decision to join the APC reflects the necessity of unifying with the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
“The mass exodus from the PDP, steered by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, to the APC is ultimately in the best interests of the people of Delta State,” the Speaker remarked.
He further described how extensive consultations held on April 23 led up to a formal gathering on April 28, 2025, where the decision was publicly affirmed.
“We are dedicated to collaborating with the Federal Government to ensure significant development for our constituents,” he stated.
On behalf of the assembly, he commended Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for his decisive and forward-thinking leadership in this pivotal move.
“Our legislative body wholeheartedly supports the Governor in this initiative. It is vital that this renewed cooperation between the state and the Federal Government is nurtured to yield benefits for our people as swiftly as possible.”
Guwor informed members of the assembly that he had received notifications of party affiliation changes from twenty-two lawmakers, including himself, formally declaring their shift from PDP to APC.
He attributed this defection to ongoing turmoil within the PDP’s national leadership and the factional strife evident in the South-South Zonal Executive Committee, which has caused disunity within the party.
Reiterating the constitutional justification for their actions, the Speaker cited Section 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
“With this transition, the Delta State House of Assembly is now exclusively composed of members from the APC. We appreciate our constituents for supporting this progressive direction.”
A motion to formally adopt the letters of party affiliation changes was introduced by the Majority Leader, Hon. Emeka Nwaobi, and seconded by Hon. Ferguson Onwo, representing Isoko South II.
After the plenary session, Majority Leader Nwaobi emphasized that their decision to defect was a direct result of the internal conflicts within the PDP.
“Our choice stemmed from the instability at the national level and the factionalism at the regional level. Thus, we opted to align ourselves with the ruling All Progressives Congress, following Section 109 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended,” he concluded.
