Once regarded as a stronghold of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nigeria’s South-South region is undergoing a sweeping political transformation as influential figures realign with the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The shift, accelerated by developments surrounding the 2024 Edo governorship election, has dramatically altered the region’s political landscape. States including Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers, Cross River and Edo are now firmly under APC influence, marking a significant consolidation of power in the oil-rich zone.
Yet beyond the symbolism of aligning with the federal government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, many residents are asking a pressing question: what concrete benefits will this political convergence deliver?
Realignment Ahead of 2027
The defections come as political actors position themselves for the 2027 general elections. In Cross River, Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe’s move from PDP to APC further strengthened the ruling party’s foothold.
Edo witnessed one of the most dramatic transitions. Following the APC’s victory in the 2024 governorship poll, defections reshaped the State House of Assembly, giving the party overwhelming control. At the national level, the APC now holds all National Assembly seats from the state.
In Bayelsa, Governor Douye Diri’s defection surprised many, given the state’s long-standing PDP dominance. Delta followed when Governor Sheriff Oborevwori joined the APC in April 2025, describing the move as strategic for development. In Rivers, Governor Siminalyi Fubara’s alignment with the ruling party came amid prolonged political tensions involving FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
Supporters of the defections argue that synergy with Abuja improves access to federal resources, accelerates infrastructure delivery and enhances intergovernmental cooperation.
Projects such as the Nembe-Brass Road and the proposed Agge Seaport are cited by Bayelsa stakeholders as early signs of federal goodwill.
Supporters See Strategy, Critics See Survival
Backers frame the realignments as pragmatic politics within Nigeria’s centralised fiscal system, where states depend heavily on federal allocations and approvals.
However, sceptics contend that defection does not automatically translate into improved governance. Political analyst Opunabo Inkotari in Rivers dismissed claims that party alignment inherently boosts development, arguing that governors are constitutionally empowered to govern effectively regardless of party affiliation.
Similarly, in Cross River and Delta, residents question whether political loyalty to the centre will lower food prices, create jobs or repair failing infrastructure.
Analysts warn that the erosion of ideological distinctions among parties has made defections easier and largely consequence-free. Critics argue that many moves are driven more by political survival, electoral calculations or perceived pressure from federal institutions than by policy convictions.
Democracy and the One-Party Question
Another concern gaining traction is the potential weakening of opposition politics in the region.
With governors, lawmakers and heavyweights converging under one platform, observers caution that reduced political competition could weaken oversight and accountability.
“Democracy thrives on alternatives,” one analyst noted. “When opposition shrinks, scrutiny declines.”
In Edo, Speaker Blessing Agbebaku defended his defection as being in his constituency’s interest, while Senator Neda Imasuen described his switch as alignment with federal priorities. Yet critics insist that voters are rarely consulted before such moves are made.
Across Port Harcourt, Benin, Calabar, Asaba and Yenagoa, citizens express cautious optimism mixed with fatigue. Many say they will judge the political shifts not by party registration figures but by tangible improvements in roads, jobs, electricity supply and economic stability.
A Region at a Crossroads
As 2027 approaches, the South-South stands politically unified but publicly divided.
For some, alignment with the centre represents strategic consolidation in a federation where federal influence shapes development outcomes. For others, it signals democratic contraction and elite self-preservation.
Ultimately, the durability and legitimacy of this unprecedented convergence will depend on measurable governance outcomes — infrastructure delivery, economic growth, transparency and institutional reform.
Until then, a lingering question echoes across the creeks and cities of the region: when politicians move, do the people move forward too?
