The Senior Policy Adviser to Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Rt. Hon. Funkekeme Solomon, has said Governor Oborevwori's decision to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) was driven by the need to align Delta State with the Federal Government and maximise development opportunities for the benefit of the people.
Speaking on TVC's Beyond The Headlines programme themed Road to 2027: Politics, Power and the Renewed Hope Agenda, Solomon said the governor made the political move after carefully assessing the national political landscape and the performance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration.
According to him, President Tinubu's leadership has created an enabling environment for governors by providing greater financial autonomy and support to states, making alignment with the ruling party at the centre beneficial for development.
He noted that Delta, as one of Nigeria's major oil-producing states, had remained outside the ruling party at the federal level for about a decade, adding that Governor Oborevwori considered it necessary to establish a stronger working relationship with the centre to attract more federal opportunities to the state.
"Governor Oborevwori was already doing well with his M.O.R.E Agenda before joining the APC, but aligning with the Federal Government provides additional opportunities for Delta State to benefit from national programmes and interventions," he said.
Solomon maintained that beyond developmental considerations, the governor's decision was influenced by the internal challenges confronting the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which, according to him, raised concerns about the party's ability to continue serving as a viable platform for governance.
He argued that the APC offered a more stable platform to continue delivering democratic dividends to the people of Delta State.
Defending the influx of former PDP leaders into the APC, Solomon dismissed criticisms from some legacy APC members, insisting that the new entrants had strengthened rather than weakened the party.
He said the governor brought with him an established political structure comprising elected officials, commissioners and grassroots supporters, describing the merger as a significant boost to the APC in Delta State.
"Any political party that receives such a strong political structure should be grateful and work together for the advancement of the party," he stated.
Commenting on the outcome of the recent APC primary elections, Solomon attributed the defeat of Senator Ned Nwoko to his inability to effectively manage his relationship with his constituents during his tenure.
He argued that the senator's loss was not caused by the entry of Governor Oborevwori and his supporters into the APC but by political realities at the grassroots.
He described former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as a seasoned politician with deep grassroots acceptance built over years of public service, noting that his experience as commissioner, Secretary to the State Government, senator and governor gave him a formidable political advantage.
"Dr. Okowa has governed Delta State for eight years with tangible results and has built strong grassroots support over the years. His political acceptance cannot be compared with that of Senator Ned Nwoko," Solomon said.
Reacting to the decision of former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege and former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly Victor Ochei to contest under another political platform, Solomon maintained that the APC in Delta remained united, stable and stronger than ever under Governor Oborevwori's leadership.
He recalled that before the political realignment, the PDP remained the dominant political force in Delta despite the presence of Omo-Agege and Ochei in the APC.
On the conduct of the party primaries, Solomon said the APC's adoption of the direct primary system reflected internal democracy and allowed party members to determine their candidates.
He described Governor Oborevwori as an inclusive leader who has consistently demonstrated exceptional capacity in managing people and carrying stakeholders along, adding that it would be impossible to satisfy everyone in politics.
According to him, politics in Delta State does not revolve around the families of former governors but remains open to every citizen willing to participate, stressing that Governor Oborevwori governs for all Deltans irrespective of political affiliation.
He said the governor's widespread infrastructural development across the 25 local government areas had strengthened public confidence in his administration and positioned the APC for electoral success.
Highlighting some achievements of the administration, Solomon said Governor Oborevwori had fulfilled his promise to restore the lost glory of Warri and its environs through major infrastructure projects, including the engagement of Julius Berger for key road and flyover projects aimed at transforming the economic landscape of the area.
He added that the governor had also kept his promise not to abandon inherited projects, citing the completion of the Ughelli–Asaba Expressway, which has significantly reduced travel time, as well as ongoing flyover projects in Warri, Effurun, Ughelli and Agbor.
Solomon concluded that the administration's commitment to continuity, infrastructure renewal and good governance had provided sufficient evidence of performance, which he said would ultimately translate into greater electoral support for the APC in Delta State.
