ASABA/Nigeria: Delta State Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, says the administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori will approach the 2027 governorship election by presenting its record in office to Deltans rather than engaging in political exchanges with opponents.
Aniagwu made the position during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Sunday, where he discussed the administration’s finances, infrastructure programme, workers’ welfare, social interventions, political activities and recent security concerns in the state.
The commissioner argued that the government’s performance should be assessed against projects and programmes implemented since Oborevwori assumed office, rather than what he described as political narratives surrounding the administration.
He pointed to roads, bridges, healthcare, education, empowerment programmes and other interventions as areas where the government would present its record to the electorate.
“Our campaign is going to be evidence-based. We will be showcasing what we have done, what constitutes our report card,” Aniagwu said.
Aniagwu also defended the administration’s handling of Delta’s finances, saying the state had made progress in reducing its debt obligations while improving its revenue position.
He said Delta’s debt burden, which he recalled had previously risen to about N450 billion, had fallen below N150 billion, describing the state as financially stable and sufficiently liquid to meet its obligations.
The commissioner further cited the government’s approach to funding projects, saying contractors were receiving mobilisation payments and that certified work was being processed for payment without prolonged delays.
He said the state’s internally generated revenue had also increased, with the 2026 budget projecting N250 billion in IGR, and argued that the administration was seeking to translate improved public finances into benefits at the grassroots.
Aniagwu linked the financial position to spending on infrastructure, workers’ welfare, empowerment and social programmes, saying the government was seeking to ensure that improvements at the macroeconomic level produced tangible effects for residents.
On infrastructure, the commissioner said the administration’s development programme extended beyond major urban centres to rural, riverine and agrarian communities.
He maintained that the government’s road and bridge projects were intended to improve connectivity and stimulate economic activity in communities where infrastructure had previously been inadequate.
Aniagwu also cited interventions in education and healthcare, saying the government was addressing school infrastructure while also focusing on equipment and personnel in healthcare facilities.
He said Delta’s four state-owned universities and other tertiary institutions remained part of the administration’s wider human-capital development agenda.
The commissioner further pointed to empowerment programmes involving grassroots structures, saying the objective was to ensure that government interventions reached residents beyond the state capital and major cities.
Aniagwu also addressed the recent confrontation between supporters of rival political interests in Delta, rejecting suggestions that the incident represented a wider breakdown of political stability in the state.
He said the government had directed security agencies to protect citizens and political actors regardless of their political affiliation and warned against actions capable of undermining the state’s peace.
“Whether you injure somebody in APC, or you injure somebody in NDC, or any other political party for that matter, you are trying to inflict injury on a Deltan or somebody who lives in Delta,” he said.
The commissioner said political competition should not be allowed to interfere with governance or the state’s development efforts, insisting that candidates and parties should be free to campaign peacefully and within the law.
Aniagwu also responded to allegations by former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, concerning an alleged threat to his life.
He said the state government had rejected any suggestion that Governor Oborevwori was responsible for threats against the former senator and advised anyone facing a credible security threat to submit evidence to the appropriate security agencies.
“We have made it clear that it is no threat to the life of our brother, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege,” Aniagwu said.
Omo-Agege’s allegations and the government’s response have become part of the political exchanges ahead of the 2027 elections, with Omo-Agege seeking the Delta Central Senate seat while Oborevwori is seeking another term as governor.
Aniagwu maintained that the government would not allow such political disagreements to distract it from implementing the MORE Agenda.
The commissioner also defended Governor Oborevwori’s support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, arguing that reforms at the Federal Government level had contributed to improved revenue flows and greater fiscal stability for states.
He said one of the broader challenges facing government was ensuring that improvements recorded in national economic indicators translated into better conditions for ordinary Nigerians.
Aniagwu said the administration would continue to present its record to Deltans as the 2027 election approaches, leaving voters to assess projects delivered, policies implemented and their effects on communities.
The commissioner stressed that the government’s political activities and its responsibility to govern should remain distinct, saying development would remain the administration’s broader objective beyond electoral contests.
