Omo-Agege Claims Oborevwori Defected to APC to Avoid 2027 Delta Governorship Clash
In a wide-ranging interview on Arise News Television Wednesday morning, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, Deputy Senate President and Delta State lawmaker, asserted that Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori abandoned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) to escape a potential defeat in the 2027 governorship election.
Responding to Oborevwori’s recent claim that he posed no threat in Delta politics, Omo-Agege said his leadership had transformed the APC into a formidable political force in the state, culminating in significant wins during the 2023 general elections.
“In the 2023 elections that I led, APC won two out of three Senate seats in Delta State. In Delta Central, where both Governor Oborevwori and I hail from, my party won a head-to-head contest with him, securing a 15,000-vote margin over his candidate,” Omo-Agege said.
The senator added that during a post-election thank-you tour, a wave of defections from the PDP to the APC occurred, prompted by declining confidence in the governor.
“Most people, especially within the PDP, were unhappy with the governor and began moving into the APC to support me ahead of the 2027 elections. Sheriff saw this and panicked, eventually joining the APC,” he alleged.
Omo-Agege defended his 2023 senatorial primary bid, which faced criticism from Oborevwori for alleged lack of consultation.
According to the Deputy Senate President, APC, under his guidance, won Delta Central and other key constituencies, despite efforts from the sitting governor and his allies to manipulate party structures.
“I won 84 out of 85 wards in the primaries, with only the governor’s ward lost,” Omo-Agege noted, emphasizing the overwhelming support of his over 240,000 organic voters across Delta State.
He accused Oborevwori of attempting to wield government machinery to sideline APC members, yet stressed that party loyalty among grassroots supporters remained steadfast.
On Delta State governance, Omo-Agege criticized Oborevwori for mismanagement of funds, noting that despite receiving over N3.15 trillion in three years, about N750 billion remains idle in state accounts.
“There is nothing ongoing in Delta State other than a few flyovers. We need leadership that can tackle hunger, insecurity, education, and healthcare,” he said.
The senator also addressed questions about his recent political realignment, clarifying that he had not abandoned the APC, but rather, felt the party leadership had marginalized him and his supporters.
He stressed that his support for economic policies such as Naira flotation and subsidy removal remains intact and now aligns with Peter Obi’s platform.
On legal and electoral concerns, Omo-Agege dismissed speculation that his candidacy with the New Democratic Congress (NDC) could be jeopardized by ongoing court rulings on INEC’s electoral timetable.
He stated that his membership and candidacy remain valid, pointing to compliance with the Electoral Act’s Section 77 requirements.
Concluding the interview, Omo-Agege reiterated his confidence in Delta voters and expressed readiness to continue his political fight for the 2027 elections.
