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By Our Reporter

What was loudly celebrated as a major political realignment in Delta State is now unravelling under the weight of a fundamental question: can you defect to a party you never formally joined?

Fresh legal action before the Federal High Court in Abuja has put Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Speaker Emomotimi Dennis Guwor, and 21 members of the Delta State House of Assembly on the spot over their alleged failure to complete their membership registration with the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/692/2026, three APC members, Sunday Aminugo, Christian Emegere, and Christian Egbuchinem, have dragged the party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to court, seeking clarity and consequences over what they describe as a glaring constitutional breach.

At the heart of the matter is a simple but explosive claim: despite publicly announcing their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as far back as May 6, 2025, the Speaker and the lawmakers have allegedly not registered on the APC’s official membership platform, an essential requirement under the party’s constitution.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Festus Ahon, who apparently sought to intimidate our Reporter when asked for his comment, initially resorted to howling, apparently to intimidate the Reporter said: “Is this even a news story that should be written?”

The Reporter retorted, telling him: “Is it because you are now a politician that journalists don’t now know what constitutes a story? If you are in the newsroom can you tell your Editor what is a story and what is not a story to write?”

Ahon, then backpedaled, saying: “How can anybody say that the leader and head of a political party in the state is not a registered member of the party?”

The Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Nkem Nwaeke said: “If the matter is already in court, it is subjudice and so no comment.”

Meanwhile, the suit directly challenges their participation in APC activities, including congresses, meetings, and internal decision-making processes, arguing that without proper registration, they remain political outsiders masquerading as insiders.

Even more damaging is the claim that this non-registration is not speculation but an admitted fact, contained in counter-affidavits already before courts in Abuja and Asaba, affidavits that have reportedly not been withdrawn.

A Defection in Name Only?

The plaintiffs are asking the court to interpret key provisions of the APC Constitution, insisting that mere declaration of intent to join a party does not confer membership rights.

They are also seeking injunctive orders restraining both the APC and INEC from recognizing the affected lawmakers as bona fide members of the party.

If the court agrees, it could invalidate not just their roles within the APC, but potentially every political action they have taken under its banner.

Implications: Earthquake Looms

The implications of this case are far-reaching and potentially devastating:

• Loss of Political Legitimacy: If ruled non-members, Oborevwori and the lawmakers could be stripped of any authority exercised within APC structures. Their votes, endorsements, and participation in party affairs may be deemed null and void.
• Constitutional Crisis in Delta Assembly: The status of the Speaker and the 21 lawmakers could come under intense scrutiny. Questions may arise as to whether they have violated constitutional provisions regarding defection, especially if their “new party” status is legally nonexistent.
• Risk of Seat Forfeiture: Nigeria’s constitutional framework is clear on defections. Lawmakers who defect without valid grounds risk losing their seats. If their APC membership is invalid, they may be caught in a dangerous legal limbo—neither fully PDP nor legitimately APC.
• INEC’s Credibility on the Line: As a defendant in the suit, INEC may be compelled to take a definitive position on what constitutes valid party membership, a move that could set a national precedent.
• APC’s Internal Integrity Questioned: The case exposes potential cracks within the APC’s membership system. Allowing high-profile defectors to operate without formal registration raises questions about whether political expediency has trumped due process.

Beyond Delta: A Pattern Emerging?

The controversy is already fueling wider allegations that similar “paper defections” may exist across parts of the South-South and South-East, where political heavyweights publicly align with the APC without completing formal membership processes.

If proven, this could puncture the narrative of expanding APC dominance and expose what critics describe as a fragile coalition built more on optics than institutional compliance.

This is no longer just about Delta State politics, it is a test of whether party structures, constitutional provisions, and electoral integrity still mean anything in Nigeria’s political system.

If you can defect without registering, participate without legitimacy, and wield power without process, then the very foundation of party politics is at risk of collapse.

For now, the courts will decide.