…Says governor’s performance has silenced critics
As political parties begin to activate their structures for the 2027 general elections, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Delta State and former DESOPADEC Commissioner, Mr Ken Okolugbo, has made a stunning assessment of the governorship race, declaring that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has no serious challenger.
Okolugbo, who spoke on Channels Television on Saturday, said while several aspirants had picked tickets to contest the governorship election, none, in his assessment, had demonstrated the political strength or pathway required to unseat the incumbent governor.
His verdict came amid renewed political manoeuvring in the state, particularly within the opposition camp, as politicians reposition ahead of what promises to be a fiercely contested 2027 election.
“Governor Oborevwori does not really have a contender,” Okolugbo declared.
He, however, acknowledged that there were candidates who had secured party tickets and were preparing to campaign against the governor, stressing that his assessment was based on their current political standing and the realities on ground in Delta.
Okolugbo was particularly dismissive of the chances of former governorship candidate, Chief Great Ogboru, who is contesting under the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
“I don't see a pathway for Chief Great Ogboru in these elections,” he said.
The APC chieftain, who said Ogboru was a political leader he respected and one who had given him the opportunity to contest for the House of Representatives under the Alliance for Democracy in 2003, said he had personally discussed the 2027 contest with him.
According to Okolugbo, winning the governorship of Delta requires more than simply picking a party ticket, arguing that the state's political terrain demands a candidate with a recognisable political trajectory, established structures and broad acceptability across the state.
“Delta State is a very big state. You don't just come out to become the governor of Delta State,” he said.
He also questioned the prospects of candidates from relatively lesser-known political platforms, saying political visibility and experience would be critical in determining who could mount a serious challenge to Oborevwori.
But beyond the perceived weaknesses of the opposition, Okolugbo attributed Oborevwori's growing political advantage to what he described as the governor's performance in office.
He recalled that many politicians and political observers had initially doubted Oborevwori's capacity to secure the PDP governorship ticket and subsequently win the 2023 election.
“Governor Oborevwori is doing very well,” he said, adding that the governor had “proved most of them wrong by the things he is doing.”
Okolugbo's comments come at a time opposition parties are grappling with the aftershocks of their internal primaries and the movement of aggrieved aspirants across political platforms.
The APC chieftain admitted that the party was not immune to internal disagreements, particularly following its recent primary elections, with some members reportedly considering alternative platforms to pursue their ambitions.
However, he suggested that the APC's ability to mount an effective challenge in 2027 would depend largely on how quickly it could resolve its internal differences, unite its members and build a formidable campaign structure.
For now, Okolugbo's declaration has added a fresh dimension to the emerging 2027 political battle in Delta, effectively placing the burden on opposition parties to prove that Oborevwori's perceived dominance can indeed be broken.
With campaign activities set to gather momentum, the coming months are expected to test whether the governor's current political advantage is as formidable as Okolugbo claims—or whether the opposition can spring a surprise at the polls.
