By Akpos Oje
The All Progressives Congress (APC) is considering granting automatic second-term tickets to Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his Akwa Ibom counterpart, Pastor Umo Eno, alongside other top defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Party sources confirmed at the weekend that the move is aimed at consolidating APC’s strength in the South-South and protecting the political future of governors who recently joined the ruling party.
According to insiders, President Bola Tinubu is supportive of the plan, with strategists arguing that Oborevwori and Eno delivered significant political capital by defecting to APC and should be shielded from internal party contests.
“The President is pragmatic. He understands that these governors are strong in their states and can deliver victory in 2027,” a senior APC figure said. “They had second-term assurances in their former party. Bringing them into APC without protecting their re-election prospects would be politically risky.”
One of the strategies under consideration is to use the forthcoming party congresses, expected between November and December, to restructure ward, local government and state organs in favour of the defectors. Another option is to adopt affirmation rather than competitive primaries, though some stakeholders have warned this could trigger legal challenges.
Despite these concerns, APC leaders insist that ensuring stability and maintaining control in the South-South outweighs dissent. In Delta, there is unease among supporters of former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege, while in Akwa Ibom, some grassroots members question Governor Eno’s strength compared to PDP’s machinery.
However, party insiders argue that both governors remain critical to APC’s 2027 calculations. “They are the faces of APC’s breakthrough in the South-South. Protecting their incumbency is not just about reward, it is a strategic necessity,” one source said.
The APC National Working Committee (NWC) is expected to deliberate further on the issue ahead of the congresses.
