• Omo-Agege’s defection expected, has no impact
By Chike Ofili
Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic reforms have transformed the financial fortunes of states, enabling his administration to execute projects at an unprecedented pace, while expressing confidence that Deltans will overwhelmingly support the President’s re-election in 2027.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE News on Tuesday, Oborevwori described Tinubu’s return for a second term as his most important political project, insisting that the President’s policies have delivered tangible benefits to Delta State and made governance significantly easier.
According to the governor, increased revenues accruing to states following the Federal Government’s reforms have empowered his administration to undertake and complete projects across the state without financial constraints.
“I’m begging people to vote for President Bola Tinubu. It’s my number one project. That project is bigger than any other project because it will help us achieve more for our people,” Oborevwori said.
The governor noted that Delta State is currently experiencing one of its strongest financial positions in history, allowing the government to promptly meet obligations to contractors and accelerate infrastructure development.
“For the first time in the history of this state, we are not owing contractors. We don’t wait for allocation before paying contractors. Once jobs are certified, we pay. We mobilise contractors with 40 per cent and continue to fund projects as work progresses,” he stated.
Oborevwori said the impact of Tinubu’s reforms is visible across Delta, stressing that the state now has the resources to sustain numerous ongoing projects simultaneously.
“If the reforms are not working, will we get this money? More money is coming to the states. The reforms are working very well in Delta State, and that is why we are able to execute projects and meet our obligations,” he added.
Highlighting the scale of development under his administration, the governor said there are so many completed and ongoing projects that he could spend virtually every day commissioning them.
“There are too many projects that we have done and we are still doing. If I start commissioning projects every week, I may not finish before the election. The people can see what we are doing, and they know the difference,” he said.
Oborevwori expressed confidence that Delta State would deliver substantial votes for President Tinubu in the 2027 general election, arguing that residents are increasingly appreciating the benefits of the President’s economic policies.
“President Bola Tinubu is my biggest project, and we in Delta are solidly behind him. Delta people were deceived earlier, but not anymore. I can tell you categorically that no Delta person will vote against Tinubu,” he declared.
On recent political developments in the state, the governor dismissed concerns over the defection of former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, describing the move as anticipated and politically inconsequential.
According to him, Omo-Agege’s exit from the All Progressives Congress (APC) did not come as a surprise because he had allegedly distanced himself from party activities and consultations long before his departure.
“We were aware of his exit, and that was why he was not serious in the context of the primaries because he never consulted anybody. He never consulted me, he never called leaders,” Oborevwori said.
The governor maintained that the APC in Delta remains united and stronger than ever following what he described as a political realignment that saw key stakeholders across the state rally behind the ruling party.
He recalled that extensive consultations involving political leaders, elected officials, traditional stakeholders, religious groups and other interest groups preceded the mass movement into the APC.
“We all agreed that we should move. That was why the movement was a tsunami. We moved en masse into the APC and nobody was left behind. The same people who agreed to move are still there to defend the party,” he said.
Oborevwori further expressed optimism that the combination of visible development projects in Delta State and President Tinubu’s economic reforms would strengthen public support for the APC ahead of the 2027 elections, insisting that the defection of any individual would not alter the party’s electoral prospects in the state.