A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Jesutega Onokpasa says President Bola Tinubu has failed woefully based on the performance of his administration.

Onokpasa stated this in an interview with Arise Television on Sunday, warning that the president may end up being a one-term president if he did not improve in his performance.

Onokpasa also expressed school why Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, who he referred to as his cousin, defected to the APC.

According to him, the governor’s defection to the ruling party does not add any value to the APC or the state.

The APC chieftain reiterated that the ruling party should not focus on the defection of opposition politicians into its fold but on good governance.

Onokpasa added that the defections of opposition leaders to the APC negate the principles of democracy.

“It is not a question of people defecting to our party. It is a question of are we ruling well? In that sense, we failed woefully.

“President Bola Tinubu has failed woefully to rule well, provide food for Nigerians, and give succour in these hard times.

“Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, who recently defected to our party, is actually my cousin. I don’t have the slightest idea why he defected to our party. He did not inform me. I wish him well,” he said.

Ex-Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has said he regretted his decision to run as the vice-presidential candidate alongside Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 presidential election, admitting that it contradicted the zoning and wishes of his people.

Speaking on Arise Television, Okowa described his acceptance of the role as a misalignment with the prevailing sentiments in Delta State — an issue he said he has deeply reflected upon.

He said, “Even when we were campaigning, I realised our people were not interested in having another northerner come into power.

“But the decision had already been taken at the federal level by the party (PDP) and I had been nominated. Still, in retrospect, I now believe I should have gone with the will of my people.”

He also fired back at former Senate President Bukola Saraki for criticising his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Okowa, former presidential running mate to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the PDP in the 2023 general elections, said that Saraki lacks the moral standing to comment on or criticise his defection.

“I did not expect that someone like Senator Bukola Saraki should be able to speak concerning me, because he knows that he had also moved to APC before and eventually returned,” Okowa said.

“So he has had movement to and fro. So, I don’t think that he has the moral right to even speak about my defection at all.”

Okowa explained that the decision to defect was not taken lightly and was a collective resolution by key political figures in Delta State.

He said it was necessitated by internal crises and a lack of strategic direction within the PDP.

“Several things have been going on in the party. While I do not want to join issues with people, as stakeholders, our leaders in this state have sat down to look at the events in the last several months,” Okowa noted.

“Because of the events that we see and the communications coming out from the leadership of the PDP at the moment, it did not appear to us that that was a proper political vehicle for us to continue in.”
He further pointed to the PDP governors’ resistance to forming a coalition and the ongoing leadership crisis as clear signs that the opposition party is not prepared for serious political competition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has summoned its National Working Committee (NWC) for an urgent gathering on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Abuja. The emergency meeting comes in the wake of a string of high-ranking defections that threaten to weaken the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Over the past fortnight, the PDP has lost several key figures in rapid succession:

Ifeanyi Okowa, former vice-presidential candidate.
Sheriff Oborevwori, Governor of Delta State, alongside the entire PDP leadership in that state.
Oluwole Oke, five-term member of the House of Representatives from Osun State.

Delta State—once a PDP stronghold—has now seen its governors, senators and local council chairpersons decamp to rival parties. Political analysts warn that the party’s diminished numbers in the National Assembly could undermine its legislative influence and funding streams.

According to an exclusive copy of the invitation obtained by The PUNCH, acting National Secretary Setonji Koshoedo has formally requested all NWC members and cabinet secretaries to attend:

Date: Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Time: 12:00 noon (prompt)
Venue: NWC Hall, Wadata Plaza, PDP National Secretariat, Abuja

The agenda encompasses:

Analysis of recent defections and identification of root causes
Recommendations from the PDP Governors Forum
Preparation for upcoming Congresses and the National Elective Convention
Strategic repositioning in anticipation of the 2027 polls

A senior party insider, speaking on condition of anonymity, emphasized that halting the exodus will require both political incentives and stronger internal discipline.

The PDP’s leadership vacuum has exacerbated the crisis. Since former National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu stepped down, factions have clashed over his successor:

Umar Damagum, Acting National Chairman, has faced criticism for failing to prevent defections.
Setonji Koshoedo, appointed National Secretary by the Governors Forum, issued the emergency meeting notice.
Senator Samuel Anyanwu, reinstated as National Secretary by the Supreme Court on March 21, 2025, insists he will attend and insists judicial intervention in internal disputes was inappropriate.

“We will do our best to ensure that peace reigns in the PDP and that the party is preserved,” Anyanwu stated, pledging cooperation despite ongoing tussles.

Observers note that unresolved disputes over the Secretary position have paralyzed decision-making and weakened the party’s ability to present a united front.

Sources say the NWC will consider several counter-defection strategies:

Re-engagement tours for disaffected governors and lawmakers
Incentive packages—including committee appointments and funding guarantees
Conflict-resolution committees to address local grievances
Strengthened anti-defection clauses in the party constitution

One NWC official admitted, “There is nothing the PDP can do to stop those determined to leave—unless you can meet all their demands or shield them from anti-graft probes.” Nonetheless, party strategists hope a blend of carrots and sticks will slow the bleeding.

The PDP’s ability to retain its traditional bases in the South-South and South-West will be critical. Key considerations include:

Legislative strength: Loss of National Assembly seats may cost the PDP influence over budget and appointments.
State government control: Defections in Delta State could embolden rival parties in other southern states.
National unity: Prolonged leadership disputes risk alienating grassroots members and donors.

Political analyst Dr. Ifedayo Ogunleye says, “The PDP must demonstrate internal cohesion before it can credibly challenge for the presidency in 2027. Otherwise, it risks ceding ground to a more unified opposition.”

With the emergency NWC meeting set for April 29, all eyes will be on which strategies the PDP adopts to plug the leaks. Key outcomes to watch:

Reconciliation initiatives led by senior party elders
Official response to the Supreme Court’s National Secretary ruling
Concrete plans for the 2025 Congresses and 2026 National Executive Convention
Messaging discipline to reassure the electorate and investors

As the clock ticks towards 2027 polls, the PDP’s survival—and its prospects of reclaiming power—hinge on swift, decisive action at Tuesday’s session. Failure to stem the tide of defections may consign the party to opposition status for the foreseeable future.