A prominent political analyst in Delta State, George Urhie, has warned the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the national level of the dire consequences of allowing Governor Sherrif Oborevwori of Delta State to defect to the party and seek re-election on its platform come 2027.
Urhie’s warning comes amid rumours of Oborevwori’s potential defection to APC, despite his claims that “Delta is PDP and PDP is Delta.”
According to Urhie, Oborevwori’s motivations for joining the APC appeared driven by self-preservation and a desire to evade accountability for alleged misuse of state resources, rather than a genuine commitment to the party’s ideals.
“In reality, Oborevwori’s motivations appear to be centered around securing his political future, evading accountability for the PDP’s alleged misuse of state resources, and shielding Senator Ifeanyi Okowa from potential prosecution over the alleged mismanagement of N1.3 trillion in 13% derivation funds meant for oil-producing communities,” Urhie stated.
Urhie also highlighted Oborevwori’s alleged fear of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, the APC governorship candidate in 2023, as a driving force behind his rumoured decision to defect.
“Driven by fear of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, Oborevwori is making a desperate move to block Omo-Agege’s path to the APC governorship ticket, after his previous strategy to undermine Omo-Agege by funding infighting within the Delta APC backfired spectacularly,” Urhie noted.
“Oborevwori’s leadership style, marked by ineptitude, corruption, incompetence, insensitivity, and a lack of vision, would severely undermine the APC’s efforts to bring meaningful change to Delta State and foster progress,” Urhie warned. “His defection would betray not only the Delta progressives who built the PDP from the ground up but also the electorates who crave genuine transformation.”
The analyst emphasised that Oborevwori’s presence in the APC would not guarantee the party’s victory in the 2027 elections, citing the PDP’s poor performance in the 2023 presidential election in Delta State. Despite having Senator Okowa as his running mate, Atiku Abubakar lost the state by a significant margin. “The 2023 presidential election results in Delta State starkly illustrate the PDP’s unpopularity, casting doubt on Oborevwori’s ability to deliver the state to President Bola Tinubu in 2027,” Urhie pointed out.
Furthermore, he said Oborevwori’s own electoral performance was allegedly lackluster, with losses in two out of three senatorial districts. The analyst also noted that the APC’s strong momentum in Delta State, with over 60% of PDP members defecting, including high-profile figures like Senator Ned Nwoko and Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, further underscored the party’s potential to win the state without Oborevwori’s help.
In light of the developments, Urhie urged the APC to prioritise the people’s interests and reject Oborevwori’s bid, maintaining its commitment to progress and reform. “Accepting Oborevwori would betray the trust of Deltans who defected from the PDP, alienate supporters, and potentially damage the APC’s electoral prospects,” Urhie cautioned.
The APC’s decision on Oborevwori’s alleged defection bid will be closely watched, as it could have significant implications for the party’s prospects in Delta State and beyond. As the party’s momentum gains traction, its optimism about securing both the presidential and governorship elections in 2027 appears well-founded, making Oborevwori’s potential defection unnecessary.
Urhie concluded that the APC should focus on its strategic strengthening of presence in Delta State, through reconciliation, grassroots mobilization, and effective messaging, rather than entertaining opportunistic defections. The party’s strong performance in the state, including its success in the House of Assembly elections, demonstrates its potential to deliver meaningful change and win the state for President Tinubu in 2027.
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