*2027: No one can hold Oborevwori to the Jugular – Ex Delta APC Secretary, Nick Ovuakporie

By Philip Onome

Former Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, Otunba Nick Ovuakporie, has dismissed recent controversies and social media claims concerning the intentions of former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege to contest the governorship in 2027 as unfounded and baseless.

In a press briefing at his office in Asaba, Ovuakporie praised Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s track record of development, asserting that the governor has broad support among the people of Delta State. He stated, “Gentlemen of the press, it is a pleasure to meet with you. My long-standing relationship with many of you underscores my commitment to the APC and political growth in our state.”

He emphasized, “No one can hold His Excellency, our Governor, Rt. Hon. Elder Sheriff F.O. Oborevwori, to the jugular. He is the undisputed leader of the APC in Delta State. The recent rumors about a challenge to his position in 2027 lack merit. The Governor’s achievements have earned him the people’s confidence and will secure his re-election.”

Ovuakporie then reflected on the history of the APC in Delta State, asserting that the narrative cannot be accurately conveyed without acknowledging his contributions as a key insider.

He said; “The story of the APC in Delta State can not be told correctly without my input, having played a significant role in its administration as an insider and a major stakeholder. It is fundamental to note that the APC is not a personal fiefdom of any individual but a political party founded on progressive ideals and open to all who wish to join its ranks.”

“This is exemplified by the fact that we admitted Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, former Deputy President of the 9th Senate from the Labour Party. He was elected to represent Delta Central Senatorial District in the 8th Senate under the Labour Party platform and not the APC.”

Going further, he said, “Omo-Agege was not a founding member of the APC but joined us after the party was well established, under the leadership of the founding leader Olorogun O’tega Emerhor. We took leadership from him and gave it to him (Omo-Agege) upon his joining us, as he was the highest elected official of the party at that time.”

“We did everything within our powers to support him, including influencing and authenticating the parallel primary elections held at Mobile Base in Udu, where he contested against Olorogun O’tega Emerhor whose primaries held in Ughelli We supported him until he emerged as the deputy president of the 9th Senate”.

Ovuakporie criticized Omo-Agege’s lack of financial contribution to the party’s operations and accused him of fostering divisions within the party’s leadership. “It’s on record that he never supported the Party to pay rents or for it’s day to day operations which you may verify from the State Chairman Elder Omeni Sobotie neither did he reward anyone with the smallest contract from the billions of contracts he influenced during his tenure as DSP.”

“The current State Publicity Secretary of the APC can be asked if he benefited from him, rather than bullying for the role he played in enabling him to win the Court of Appeal case that secured his victory”

Addressing allegations against Omo-Agege related to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he said, “The assertion that some persons in the Villa blackmailed him before President Ahmed Bola Tinubu is also incorrect. The President himself was aware the former DSP did not support his emergence as the Party’s presidential flag bearer during the Presidential Convention held at Eagle Square in Abuja. He supported someone else, and this is an open fact.”

“His treacherous actions against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu continued into the 2023 general elections, having gone into a working pact with the Peter Obi led Labour Party with open endorsement which were widely circulated in the media space. Lies can not last for so long”.

He continued; “It is an incontrovertible fact that without me, Otunba Nick Ovuakporie, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege would not have had the leadership of the APC during his reign, including the present State, Wards, and Local Government Excos that gave him the support he never reciprocated. I took possession of the entire Congress materials singlehandedly without his support and handed over the structure of the Party to him, with my name all over the country.”

“This feat earned him the leadership of the Party then, a position he misused to cause disaffection within the Party leadership ranks rather than using it to unite the Party. His poor iron clad leadership style caused Delta State, the Managing Director of the NDDC, which was supposed to accelerate development in Delta State.”

“I took so much risk and endangered my family for the sake of ungrateful tyrants. I make bold to say that the current State Exco, up to the wards, were my brainchild and came to being through my ingenuity. As such, he must submit to the new political order and stop heating up the polity. We will not allow anyone to distract the governor as we march towards the 2027 general elections”.

Ovuakporie however called for unity and respect for the current political order, urging all party members to rally behind Governor Oborevwori as they approach the 2027 elections. “Oborevwori is the leader of the party, and everyone who claims to support our president genuinely must submit to the Governor’s leadership and queue behind to build the Renewed Hope for MORE Agenda.”

“The governor has made every Deltan proud with his relentless desire to develop every part of the state, and he deserves our support and commendation. He does not need to be distracted by noisemakers and subjected to any kind of mudslide by those driven by selfish and inordinate ambitions with an unquenchable thirst for power.” he added.