Reports suggest that fear of former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, is pushing the Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to rush an endorsement of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori well ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Political analyst Basil Okoh points out that the governor’s rising anxiety and heavy reliance on President Bola Tinubu’s support reveal a deep sense of insecurity within the party.
Okoh, in a widely shared online article, explained that a secretive meeting held on Sunday at the Government House Banquet Hall in Asaba was called to quickly position Oborevwori as the APC’s sole candidate for the governorship. He added that phones were reportedly confiscated and attendees were forbidden from taking photos—a clear indication, he said, that “the meeting was fueled by fear, exclusion, and unease over one man’s silence.”
Okoh emphasized that this silence is a deliberate move by Omo-Agege, and it has come to shape the entire political mood within the Delta APC.
Okoh noted that Oborevwori’s unease comes from his doubt about winning a competitive primary election.
The analyst also pointed out that, despite backing from prominent figures like Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo, Oborevwori is still seen as an outsider within the APC.
Okoh suggested that Oborevwori’s eagerness to align himself with President Tinubu is more about seeking legitimacy through association than demonstrating a true personal connection.
He cautioned that the APC’s support in Delta has sharply declined since Oborevwori’s defection, pointing out that “he has a real reason to be afraid of Omo-Agege’s unstoppable influence, which is behind his falling popularity.”
The report showed that loyalists in the Sobotie–Sheriff faction are quietly hoping Omo-Agege will leave the party to clear the way for their rise to power. However, Okoh noted that his silence still weighs heavily on them.
Okoh noted that during the meeting at the Banquet Hall, Governor Oborevwori openly expressed his concerns, insisting that he would “not negotiate with anyone” over his APC candidacy. However, Okoh believes that, in reality, Oborevwori will eventually negotiate—driven by self-interest and influenced by President Tinubu’s political considerations. After all, Oborevwori has contributed little to strengthening the APC in Delta State, so he can’t reasonably expect any special treatment within the party. When the time comes, the party’s rules will be strictly enforced against him.
Okoh also emphasized that Oborevwori’s political moves are driven more by fear than by a clear strategy.
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