A major political realignment unfolded in Warri on Sunday as former two-time Chairman of Warri South Local Government and immediate past State Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Delta State Caretaker Committee, Dr Michael Tidi, formally defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Tidi led a large crowd of supporters to the defection ceremony held at Rice Farm, near Esisi Bridge, Warri, marking one of the most significant political movements in Warri South ahead of future elections.
Addressing party leaders and supporters, including Dr Joseph Otumara, member representing Warri South Constituency I; Hon Augustine Uroye; and Hon Omimi Esquire, among others, Tidi framed his decision as both strategic and personal, arguing that electoral victories are determined at the polling unit level rather than by status or material display.
“Your jeep will not save you,” he said. “Elections are won and lost at the unit level. It is the mercy and commitment of grassroots people that make victory possible.”
The former PDP Delta State Caretaker Committee Secretary described his move as a return to his political roots, insisting that his continued stay in the PDP had become untenable.
“If I open my phone and read what my former party leaders said about today, you will know they understand they have lost someone,” he said. “Truthfully, I never truly belonged there. This is where I belong. This is where my political family is.”
Tidi referenced long-standing political alliances and family ties within the APC, arguing that remaining in a different party lacked logic and conviction.
“A man should be known for where he stands,” he said, commending supporters who openly aligned with him rather than maintaining divided loyalties.
He assured APC leaders that his entry into the party was not driven by destructive competition but by a desire to strengthen its structure in Warri South.
“We have not come to compete destructively. We are here to add value to this great party,” Tidi declared, pledging to work collaboratively with existing leaders and new entrants alike.
The former council chairman praised the current Warri South APC leadership for its inclusive approach, contrasting it with political traditions where successors isolate their predecessors.
He specifically acknowledged the local government party chairman for sustained outreach and reconciliation efforts, describing him as “capacity personified” and committed to unity.
Tidi also called for the proper integration of his supporters, particularly at the ward and grassroots levels, stressing that political relevance must extend beyond elites.
“Our grassroots people are critical. Their fear is whether they will be properly integrated into their wards. That must be addressed,” he said.
He declared his readiness to immediately begin work within the APC, describing the defection as a collective project rather than a personal ambition.
Receiving him on behalf of the party, Delta South Senatorial Chairman of the APC, Mr Austin Eribioye, described Tidi as a tested political figure whose entry would add “strength, direction and verve” to the party ahead of future contests.
Eribioye said party growth depends on active and committed membership and disclosed that senior leaders, including the Delta State APC Chairman, Elder Omeni Sobotie, had been briefed and were pleased with the development.
Eribioye formally handed Tidi over to the Chairman of APC Warri South Local Government Area, Hon Richard Pessu, declaring that the former PDP chieftain was entitled to “all rights and privileges” of party membership from the moment of transfer.
He urged members to embrace unity, assuring that the party would work collectively to consolidate its position across the local government.
In his remarks, Pessu described Tidi’s defection as a strategic consolidation for the APC in Warri South, noting that the party’s doors remain open to leaders willing to contribute meaningfully to its growth.
He said the influx of experienced political actors signalled increasing confidence in the APC’s direction at both the state and local levels.
The Warri South APC chairman further assured Tidi’s supporters of fair treatment and full participation in party activities, emphasising that internal cohesion would remain a priority.
According to him, integration at the ward level would be handled transparently to prevent friction and to strengthen grassroots structures ahead of future elections.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Warri South Local Government, Comrade Isaac Agbateyiniro, described the development as a decisive political shift.
He argued that the defection of a high-ranking PDP state official signalled a weakening of opposition strength in Warri South and invited remaining opposition figures to reconsider their stance.
Isaac congratulated Tidi on what he termed a bold decision and reassured defectors that there would be no hierarchy of “first- or second-class” members within the APC.
With speeches centred on unity, grassroots mobilisation and consolidation, the rally marked one of the most visible shifts in Warri South’s political landscape in recent months, as the APC strengthens its hold in the area.
