A wave of excitement swept through Uduophori town in Patani Local Government Area of Delta State on Thursday night as Chief Maxwell Defend, a respected philanthropist and influential political figure, officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The event was marked by jubilant celebrations from supporters, party members, and local leaders.
Chief Maxwell’s defection was described by APC leaders as a significant political gain. The APC Chairman of Patani Local Government declared the development as the most important political achievement for the party in 2025, stating that Maxwell’s presence would strengthen the party’s structure and attract more supporters to its fold.
Speaking shortly after his official defection, Chief Maxwell said he was excited to join the APC. “Today, I’m very happy to come to the APC. We are looking forward to working for the progress of the party and waiting for the governor’s directive. It is a great day for me,” he said.
Chief Feeborn Oruma, Chairman of APC Ward 9, welcomed the development and described Chief Maxwell as a man of goodwill. “We thank Chief Maxwell for decamping to APC. He is a good man, and we are happy to receive him. As long as people are ready to decamp, we are always ready to welcome them,” he said.
The APC Women’s Leader in Patani, Chief Mrs. Aweroba Onome, said the defection marks a new era of unity in Uduophori. “It is a joyful celebration today in Ward 9. With this move, we now have one voice in Uduophori. We pray the new members align with APC’s spirit of unity, humility, and cooperation,” she said.
She added that APC treats all members equally, regardless of when they joined. “Whether you are an old or new member, our constitution sees everyone as equal. We want our new members to leave behind old political behaviors and embrace the APC’s values,” she said.
Also present at the event was Dr. Samson Akpubere, who described Chief Maxwell as a generous community leader. He praised Maxwell for his years of service, noting his support in paying school fees, empowering women and men, and distributing food to the needy. “Maxwell is not just a politician; he is a giver and mobilizer who has impacted lives,” he stated.
Supporters of the decampees, under the political group “Team Maxwell for Sherif and Nicholas Mutu,” also celebrated the move. They said the defection signifies a new dawn for Patani and that Maxwell’s move to the ruling party would foster unity and development in the region.
According to the team, the long-term goal is to unify the political structure in Patani under a single party system that can drive coordinated progress across the state. “We give glory to God that Maxwell and all his supporters are now in APC. Today is a great day for Patani and Delta State at large,” a member of the team stated.
As the APC in Patani welcomes Chief Maxwell and his supporters, party leaders expressed hope that this strategic realignment would strengthen their chances in future elections and set a path for greater collaboration and development in the local government area.
