The defections of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, his deputy Sir Monday Onyeme, former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, and their supporters from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) have deepened fears that Nigeria may be drifting toward a one-party system.

In an interview with Vanguard, Senator Chris Ekpenyong, a founding father of the PDP and former Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, warned that President Bola Tinubu has effectively captured the PDP, making recovery increasingly difficult.

"Tinubu has killed the PDP," Ekpenyong said. "I'm sure Akwa Ibom may follow soon. Everybody wanted former Vice President Atiku to clearly state he wasn't going to contest again, but his persistence forced many to make their own decisions. This is dividing the North and the South. The party has been destroyed. Honestly, I don't know how they can rebuild it to challenge the APC in the future."

Ekpenyong identified a critical turning point in the PDP’s decline: the decision to hand over control of the party to governors.

"The first mistake the PDP made was giving the party to governors," he said. "Founding fathers like Obasanjo seized control. The only ones who stood up to him were the late Chief Sunday Awoniyi and former Vice President Alex Ekwueme, who truly founded the PDP. We joined Ekwueme when the party evolved from G34 into the PDP."

He lamented that a party originally envisioned as a people-driven movement became a tool for personal survival and protection from prosecution.
"The party was left in the hands of governors, who now control everything. Most of them are defecting to protect themselves from the EFCC. We'll see what happens after Tinubu’s two terms. Will the North use the APC for their own turn? We are heading toward a one-party state. I no longer have the locus standi to fight back. Those who looted the nation’s wealth have done their worst."

Reflecting on earlier warning signs, Ekpenyong recalled:
"The moment governors took control, the decline was inevitable. During the Second Republic, the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) wasn’t controlled by governors. If it had been, I wouldn't have become a House of Assembly member at such a young age, even while serving as a Youth Corps member — and I had no money."

Ekpenyong also disclosed that he advised embattled Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara to reach out directly to President Tinubu.
"I called Fubara; he didn’t answer. But I sent a message, advising him to visit Tinubu in France. This whole battle is about delivering Rivers State votes to Tinubu. Fubara is being humiliated by Wike, and the President has done nothing. Instead, he has installed an administrator in the state. It's all about votes. Fubara must survive politically or be rubbished."

He criticized current PDP governors for lacking courage and resolve.
"They are weak. All they care about is power and survival. Some Northern governors may soon defect too. Atiku is a major problem instead of rebuilding the party, he has been fixated on the presidency."

Describing the situation as the effective end of the PDP, Ekpenyong said:
"Only a people-led movement can revive true opposition. What's happening now is the requiem for the PDP. I recently spoke with Okwesilieze Nwodo, a former governor and PDP National Chairman. He hoped the issues could be addressed at the Convention, but with these developments, what outcome can we realistically expect?"

He further noted that the imbalance created after President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s death had long-lasting consequences.
"PDP made a huge mistake after Yar’Adua's death. They should have allowed the North to complete his term, but instead insisted it was the South’s turn. That disrupted the balance, and the effects are clear today. I don't see the PDP coming back. Maybe after Tinubu’s tenure, a new party might emerge."

On the possibility of independent candidates, Ekpenyong expressed skepticism:
"If you contest as an independent and they eliminate you at the last minute, what can you do?"