More than 1,000 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), including former party leaders, have reportedly defected to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Delta North ahead of the 2027 elections.
The defectors were drawn from the nine local government areas in the Delta North Senatorial District.
Defectors cite marginalisation
The group reportedly includes members of the Delta Coalition for Equity.
Speaking at a gathering in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area, former coalition convener Chief Alex Ikpeazu said the defectors were dissatisfied with what they described as years of marginalisation.
The group said it would support NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi and other candidates of the party in the 2027 elections.
NDC welcomes new members
The NDC leadership in Delta welcomed the new members and urged them to return to their wards and local government areas to mobilise support for the party.
The party’s state chairman, Dr Oyidobo Richmond, reportedly linked the growing interest in the NDC to Obi’s record as governor of Anambra State.
Political significance
Defections are common during Nigerian election cycles, but the scale and geographical spread of political movements can influence campaign strategy.
Delta North is an important political bloc in Delta State, making organised defections potentially significant for parties seeking to strengthen their grassroots structures.
However, the reported defections do not automatically translate into votes, as actual electoral support will only become clear at the polls.