By John Umeh
The political atmosphere in Delta State is heating up once again as Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, former Deputy Senate President and ex-APC leader in the state, resists mounting calls to abandon his 2027 governorship ambition in favor of incumbent Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
On Monday, August 25, Omo-Agege’s loyalists staged a solidarity march in Kwale, Ndokwa West Local Government Area, the home base of Deputy Governor Monday Onyeme. The march was widely interpreted as a show of defiance, signaling that Omo-Agege has no intention of ceding ground to Oborevwori despite recent overtures from party elders.
The controversy traces back to Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, a long-time ally of Omo-Agege, who recently disclosed that he had advised the ex-DSP to avoid a direct showdown with Oborevwori in 2027. According to Nwaoboshi, even former Governor James Ibori — often regarded as Omo-Agege’s political godfather — was present during his counsel. But the statement sparked backlash. Omo-Agege’s aide, Chuks Erhire, dismissed the account as “fake, malicious, and petty,” insisting that no such discussion ever took place.
Observers say the rift has exposed deeper cracks within the Delta APC. Shortly after Oborevwori, a former PDP governor, defected to the APC earlier this year, he was installed as state party leader with the backing of President Bola Tinubu. This move reportedly blindsided Omo-Agege, who had been positioning himself for 2027 after losing to Oborevwori in the 2023 governorship race.
While Omo-Agege’s camp insists he will be on the ballot, party elders appear more inclined toward consolidating power behind the sitting governor. APC state chairman Elder Omeni Sobotie recently led a high-powered delegation of senatorial leaders to Government House in Asaba, pledging loyalty to Oborevwori and his second-term project. The governor, in turn, promised to work with the party to strengthen its grassroots structure ahead of the elections.
The drama is further complicated by the silent roles of political heavyweights James Ibori and former governor Ifeanyi Okowa. While Ibori is believed to still back Omo-Agege, Okowa has openly aligned with Oborevwori, strengthening the governor’s grip on the state’s political machinery.
For Omo-Agege, however, backing down is out of character. Known for his doggedness, he has switched platforms and fought uphill battles throughout his career — from his defection from PDP to his rise as Deputy Senate President in 2019. Having once bested political titans within his party, he sees 2027 as a final, defining shot at the governorship.
But with Oborevwori already enjoying the advantage of incumbency, the APC structure, and President Tinubu’s reported blessing, many analysts believe Omo-Agege may be walking into his toughest political battle yet.
