ASABA, Delta State — The political landscape in Delta State has witnessed a significant escalation in rhetorical exchanges as Governor Sheriff Oborevwori officially dismissed suggestions that the former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, poses any credible threat to the political order in the state ahead of the 2027 general elections. Speaking during a live broadcast interview on ARISE News on Tuesday morning, June 2, 2026, the governor insisted that Senator Ede Dafinone remains a highly formidable and deeply rooted political figure within the Urhobo nation.
Governor Oborevwori’s remarks came as a direct reaction to the recent high-profile resignation of Omo-Agege from the All Progressives Congress. The governor explained that the development did not catch the political establishment off guard, noting that clear indicators of the former Deputy Senate President’s planned exit from the party had been widely visible to close observers for several months.
Addressing the circumstances surrounding the exit, the governor stated that while he would avoid using the specific term pretentious, the political class entirely saw the move coming. He revealed that long before Omo-Agege formally tendered his resignation, a vast majority of his core political loyalists and grassroots structures had already abandoned him and left the political camp over three months prior, ensuring that key stakeholders were fully aware of the internal dynamics.
According to the governor, Omo-Agege’s total lack of pre-election engagement with key party stakeholders before participating in the recent Delta Central Senatorial primary election serves as an undeniable indication that he lacked genuine commitment to the collective democratic process. Oborevwori argued that the former lawmaker simply failed to approach the primary contest with the necessary level of seriousness because he completely neglected to consult the broader leadership or the everyday party faithful across the district.
Contrasting Omo-Agege's approach with his own executive political strategy, the governor explained that he prioritized structural consultation and collective endorsement from the party hierarchy before embarking on his campaign for a second term in office. He noted that as a sitting governor, he took the time to meet face-to-face with stakeholders to communicate his intention to seek re-election, which successfully created a unified front and prevented internal opposition from emerging within his camp. He added that the state remains deeply committed to the traditional regional zoning arrangement, confirming that it is currently the undisputed turn of the Delta Central senatorial zone to hold the political mantle.
When questioned directly on whether Omo-Agege’s sudden political movements and potential realignment with alternative opposition platforms could damage the electoral fortunes of the ruling party within the vital Delta Central district, Oborevwori was highly emphatic. He declared confidently that the former Deputy Senate President does not constitute an electoral threat to his administration, pointing to his own past electoral victories in the region as proof of his political strength.
The governor spoke extensively and warmly regarding Senator Ede Dafinone, who emerged victorious as the chosen senatorial candidate for the Delta Central Senatorial District. He described Dafinone as a thorough gentleman whose family name carries immense prestige, structural influence, and historical honor across the entire length and breadth of Urhoboland.
Oborevwori emphasized that the man who successfully secured the ticket is a highly respected individual backed by a massive reputation. He observed that Dafinone is a household name within the Urhobo nation largely because his late father was an eminent senator who contributed immensely to the foundational socioeconomic development of Delta State. He maintained that this deep-seated familial legacy remains strongly intact and highly respected by the contemporary electorate.
The governor further asserted that the primary election that ultimately produced Senator Dafinone as the consensus candidate was entirely free, fair, and transparent. He advised Omo-Agege to humble himself, accept the democratic outcome, and embrace his colleague's victory, arguing that the process was handled with the highest level of administrative integrity.
Pivoting to a harsher critique of his opponent's political history, Governor Oborevwori openly questioned Omo-Agege’s long-term institutional loyalty, alleging that the former Deputy Senate President possesses a consistent track record of falling out with his political benefactors and long-term allies. He alleged that the former lawmaker entered the mainstream political arena in 2002 without significant personal capital, insisting that the state and its people built his career. The governor went further to claim that Omo-Agege historically fought the very individuals who elevated him, alleging past betrayals against former Governor James Ibori and prominent regional leader Chief Great Ogboru.
Despite these intense political maneuvers and the unfolding realignment of opposition forces, the governor expressed unshakeable confidence in the overall performance of his administration. He maintained that the consistent delivery of visible democratic dividends, large-scale infrastructural projects, and enhanced security measures across the state's urban and rural sectors will ultimately serve as the most potent campaign tools for his party when voters head to the polls in 2027.
