By Mokobia Rita.
ASABA/Nigeria: A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State and former commissioner with the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Ken Okolugbo, has described Governor Sheriff Oborevwori as the leading contender in the 2027 governorship election.
Okolugbo made the assessment during a Channels Television programme on Saturday, where he discussed the emerging political contest and the prospects of opposition parties seeking to unseat the incumbent governor.
According to him, the emergence of aspirants on different party platforms does not necessarily translate into the political strength required to defeat Oborevwori at the polls.
He attributed the governor’s perceived advantage to his administration’s performance and growing acceptance among residents, arguing that Oborevwori had overcome doubts about his capacity to govern since winning the 2023 governorship election.
“Governor Oborevwori does not really have a contender,” Okolugbo said, maintaining that the governor had continued to prove his critics wrong.
The APC chieftain also assessed the governorship ambition of Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru, a veteran of Delta politics and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate for the 2027 election.
While acknowledging Ogboru’s experience and longstanding participation in the state’s political affairs, Okolugbo argued that securing a party ticket was only one step towards winning the governorship.
He said a successful governorship campaign would require an extensive political network, sustained grassroots mobilisation and support across Delta State’s three senatorial districts.
“Delta State is a very big state. You don’t just come out to become the governor of Delta State,” he said.
Okolugbo further identified internal disagreements and political realignments within opposition parties as factors that could affect their performance in the election. He suggested that their ability to resolve disputes and present a united front would be crucial to their competitiveness.
He, however, acknowledged that the APC was also dealing with internal challenges arising from its recent primary elections, expressing confidence that the party would resolve its differences before the 2027 polls.
The comments come as political parties and their candidates intensify preparations for the Delta governorship election, with the strength of the incumbent’s political structure, opposition cohesion and the electorate’s assessment of the administration expected to shape the contest.
Okolugbo’s position represents the assessment of an APC chieftain and should not be construed as an established electoral outcome. The eventual result will be determined by voters at the election.
