…Says governor’s performance has silenced critics
As political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State and former DESOPADEC Commissioner, Mr Ken Okolugbo, has declared that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori currently has no serious challenger in the state’s governorship race.
Okolugbo made the assessment while speaking on Channels Television on Saturday, amid renewed political realignments and manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 election.
According to the APC chieftain, although several politicians have secured tickets to contest against the incumbent governor, none, in his assessment, has demonstrated the political strength, structure or broad acceptability required to defeat Oborevwori.
“Governor Oborevwori does not really have a contender,” Okolugbo declared.
He acknowledged that candidates from various political parties were already preparing for the election but maintained that the realities of Delta politics made it difficult for some of the opposition candidates to pose a serious threat to the governor.
Ogboru lacks pathway to victory, APC chieftain says
Okolugbo was particularly doubtful about the prospects of former governorship candidate, Chief Great Ogboru, who is contesting the 2027 election on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
“I don’t see a pathway for Chief Great Ogboru in these elections,” he said.
Despite his assessment, Okolugbo described Ogboru as a political leader he respects, recalling that the former governorship candidate gave him the opportunity to contest for the House of Representatives under the Alliance for Democracy in 2003.
He also disclosed that he had personally discussed the 2027 political contest with Ogboru.
Okolugbo argued that winning the Delta governorship requires more than obtaining a party ticket, stressing that candidates must possess recognisable political trajectories, established grassroots structures and broad acceptance 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.
The APC chieftain also questioned the chances of candidates contesting on relatively lesser-known platforms, arguing that political visibility, experience, organisation and statewide reach would be critical factors in the governorship contest.
Oborevwori’s performance changing political calculations
Beyond the perceived weaknesses of the opposition, Okolugbo attributed what he described as Oborevwori’s growing political advantage to the governor’s performance since assuming office.
He recalled that some politicians and political observers had initially doubted Oborevwori’s ability to secure the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship ticket and subsequently emerge victorious in the 2023 election.
According to him, the governor has since defied those expectations through his performance in office.
“Governor Oborevwori is doing very well,” Okolugbo said, adding that the governor had “proved most of them wrong by the things he is doing.”
His comments come as opposition parties continue to deal with the political consequences of their internal primaries, including disagreements among aspirants and the movement of some aggrieved politicians across party lines.
APC faces task of resolving internal differences
Okolugbo, however, admitted that the APC itself was not immune to internal disagreements, particularly following its recent primary elections.
He acknowledged that some party members were reportedly considering alternative political platforms to pursue their ambitions.
He nevertheless suggested that the APC’s ability to mount a formidable challenge in 2027 would depend largely on its capacity to resolve internal differences, reconcile aggrieved members and build a united campaign structure.
For now, Okolugbo’s declaration has added another layer to the emerging political contest in Delta State, with opposition parties now facing the challenge of demonstrating that Governor Oborevwori’s current political advantage can be overcome at the polls.
As the 2027 election approaches and campaign activities gather momentum, the political landscape in Delta is expected to become increasingly competitive, providing a clearer test of whether the governor’s perceived advantage can withstand the opposition’s mobilisation.
