Asaba, Nigeria — April 28, 2025 | Gistcore News
A political storm is sweeping through Delta State following revelations that former governor James Onanefe Ibori allegedly negotiated a high-level deal with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, offering the entire Delta State political structure to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in exchange for a long-coveted presidential pardon.
This bombshell comes barely a week after Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his predecessor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa—two of Delta’s most influential political figures—defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC in a stunning realignment of political forces in the Niger Delta.
Insider Reveals the Political Deal
According to highly placed sources who spoke exclusively to The Marshal under strict anonymity, the mastermind behind the defection wave is none other than former Governor James Ibori—the political godfather of both Oborevwori and Okowa.
“Chief Ibori made a direct approach to President Tinubu through backchannel meetings,” one source disclosed. “He asked for a presidential pardon, essentially a clean slate, in exchange for delivering Delta State to the APC. Tinubu reportedly agreed, but only on the condition that the entire PDP structure in Delta must cross over.”
And that’s exactly what played out.
Within days of the covert agreement, Oborevwori and Okowa publicly announced their defection to the APC, throwing PDP into disarray and signaling the collapse of its two-decade-long dominance in the oil-rich state.
Ibori’s Criminal Past and the UK Conviction
James Ibori’s controversial legacy has long haunted Nigeria’s political landscape. He served as governor of Delta State from 1999 to 2007 but fell from grace when he was convicted in the United Kingdom in 2012 on charges of money laundering and fraud amounting to over $250 million.
Ibori was sentenced to 13 years in a UK prison but served about half of that before being released and deported to Nigeria in 2016. Since then, he has quietly rebuilt his influence within Delta politics, maintaining strong ties with political protégés and holding sway over strategic decisions, especially during election cycles.
Though the UK conviction legally bars Ibori from holding public office, his lingering influence has remained unshaken in the state—earning him the nickname “Delta’s Political Oracle.”
Legal experts have long speculated whether Ibori could ever receive a formal pardon in Nigeria to wipe his criminal record clean. With this latest political trade-off, it appears that possibility is closer than ever.
Tinubu’s Strategic Gain
President Tinubu, who has been building alliances across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones in preparation for the 2027 elections, sees Delta as a critical win. The Niger Delta remains a volatile yet politically influential region, especially with its control over a significant share of Nigeria’s oil wealth.
By securing Delta State through Ibori’s political network, Tinubu strengthens the APC’s southern flank and consolidates federal power over one of the PDP’s last strongholds.
“Tinubu knew that bringing Ibori back into the fold meant taking Delta,” another insider noted. “And for Ibori, it was the only path back to legitimacy.”
Public Backlash and PDP Collapse
The sudden switch by Oborevwori and Okowa has triggered massive backlash among grassroots PDP supporters. Many have accused them of betraying the party and selling out to protect their political godfather.
“We are not surprised,” said a PDP youth leader in Sapele. “The entire PDP structure in Delta has been under Ibori’s grip. This was always about protecting him, not serving the people.”
Civil society groups have also raised concerns about the implications of pardoning a convicted felon in exchange for political favors.
The Delta Integrity Forum issued a scathing statement:
“If this government grants James Ibori a presidential pardon for one of the most internationally notorious corruption cases in Nigeria’s history, it will send a message that crime pays—if you can deliver votes.”
What Next for Delta Politics?
With the PDP now in shambles in Delta State, and the APC gaining strength, political analysts predict a dramatic realignment ahead of 2027. The question on everyone’s mind: Will Ibori make an official political comeback, or will he continue to wield power from the shadows?
Either way, one thing is certain—Delta politics will never be the same again.
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James Ibori Trades Delta State Political Structure for Presidential Pardon — Tinubu Secures Niger Delta
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Former Governor James Ibori reportedly traded Delta State’s PDP structure to APC in exchange for a presidential pardon, raising controversy over political power and corruption.
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