2027: Omo-Agege closes rank with Oborevwori, attends APC meeting in Govt House

By Ochuko Akuopha 

NINE months after Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State led stakeholders and the entire structure of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to defect to the All Progressives Congress, APC, former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, attended a stakeholders meeting of the party for the first time on Friday 23, January, 2026.

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The meeting held at Government House, Asaba, was convened by Governor Oborevwori to deliberate on unity, party cohesion, e-registration and the forthcoming congress.

It also had in attendance, the immediate past Governor of the State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Chief Festus Keyamo,  National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Felix Morka, members of the National and State Assemblies and other notable leaders and stakeholders of the party in the State.

Aside, Omo-Agege, another surprise attendee, was the member representing the Ethiope Federal Constituency, at the House of Representatives, Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu. She is the daughter of former governor of the State, Chief James Ibori.

A longstanding governorship aspirant in the State, Omo-Agege contested the 2023 gubernatorial election as candidate of the APC in the State and lost to Governor Oborevwori, then of the PDP.

Although  he welcomed the governor into the APC and attended the April 28, 2025 formal defection ceremony, Omo-Agege had kept his distance, maintaining a deafening silence and giving nothing away as to whether he is ready to give up his gubernatorial ambition or not.

Before the defection, the Delta APC could be best described as a house divided against itself with the camp of Omo-Agege at loggerheads with a faction led by Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Chief Festus Keyamo over leadership and other post election issues.

But with Oborevwori defecting to the APC, the governor has since then assumed leadership of the party and its structure in the State, with party stakeholders acknowledging him as the undisputed leader of the party.

Okowa

Besides his predecessor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa who joined him to defect to the APC, Oborevwori has been enjoying massive support from the Elder Omeni- Sobotie led State Working Committee of the party, founding leader, Olorogun O’Tega Emerhor, Chief Festus Keyamo, Senators Ned Nwoko, Ede Dafonone, Joel Onowakpo-Thomas and other prominent stakeholders of the party across the State.

The governor has also been getting total support and series of endorsement by APC faithful and stakeholders across the three senatorial districts, 10 federal constituencies and 25 local government areas in the State as sole gubernatorial candidate of the party in the 2027 general elections.

But with speculation growing about his disposition, Omo-Agege attended the stakeholders meeting and thanked Governor Oborevwori for the decision to personally invite him to the stakeholders meeting. He noted that it was the first time he was stepping his feet in Government House in over 18 years.

He said: “I appreciate this opportunity to be here today with our leaders and friends at this pivotal moment, as we chart a new course for our great party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Delta State.

“Without question, we have built the APC as a formidable political platform in Delta State, and we remain wholly committed to its continued success. As a faithful party man, I will keep contributing to our collective growth and development. 

“As the Leader of the party in the State, Mr. Governor’s leadership is critical to the collective progress of the party and good governance in the State. As a firm believer in service to our people, I am ready to work with the Governor and other leaders to ensure this party thrives and delivers bold and sustainable benefits to our people.

“It is indisputable that as the immediate past governorship candidate of this party, I am privileged to have a huge organic political following in our state, including the over 240,000 Deltans who voted for me in the 2023 general elections. 

“I have no doubt that our Governor, as the party’s leader in the State, will take the initiative to ensure the inclusivity of my hundreds of thousands of faithful, diehard grassroots supporters in the party who made this possible and remain ready to mobilise for APC. This will undoubtedly help our party secure resounding victories in future elections at both state and federal levels.

“My philosophy in public governance is simple: service to the people comes first. I will work with everyone, by God’s grace, to lift up Delta State. My support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is firm and enduring. 

“And to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, be assured that with my commitment to a legacy of qualitative governance, I am ready to collaborate with you to strengthen our party and deliver on its promises to our people, making Delta State a better place for all.”

Oborevwori at the meeting, noted that leadership derives its legitimacy from the people, adding it must be guided by humility, empathy and service. 

He stressed the need for stakeholders to place collective interest above personal considerations, resist division and avoid unnecessary conflicts, noting that unity remains the party’s greatest strength. 

The governor said meetings of the nature provide opportunities to review progress, strengthen structures and prepare for critical political milestones, adding that mobilisation, registration and participation would ultimately determine electoral outcomes.

He also emphasized the need for them to deliver massive votes for President Bola Tinubu and all other elective positions in the 2027 elections.

Why reconciliation?

Although the circumstances that led to Omo-Agege attending the meeting and resolving to work with the governor were not immediately clear, a source said it had to do with a reconciliation that took place at the national leadership of the party.

 He however noted that where the true picture of the party would become clearer would be where the balance of power would tilt to after the party’s congress.

A political observer, however attributed it to the political masterstroke of Oborevwori who as the leader of the party in the State wanted to ensure unity and get all leaders of the party to work together ahead of the 2027 polls.

“The Governor Oborevwwori has done well. In the APC constitution, the governor is the leader and if you are the leader, you have to carry everybody along. Even the father of the prodigal son accepted the son when the son came back” he said.

He however, said the possibility of some horse trading taking place could not be ruled out, noting that “you will still not rule out the possibility of some persons who will be aggrieved because, in the negotiation table, some interests will be established while some interests will be thrown into the dustbin.

“As things begin to unfold in the coming weeks and months, those whose interests are not carried on the negotiation table will drift and look for a place where they can be accommodated.”

With the party’s stakeholders closing ranks and resolving to work together in unison, it remains to be seen if the key players in the crisis that rocked the party before the defection would be able to exorcise the ghost of their conflict.

Again, with the APC over bloated with all political gladiators in the State, the governor’s ability to manage and accommodate the various interests would be crucial to the sustained unity of the party in the build up to the 2027 general elections.

Vanguard News

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