Former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege has accused Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) to avoid a direct political confrontation with him ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

Omo-Agege made the claim during a television programme yesterday. Governor Oborevwori had on the same platform a day earlier, dismissed concerns over the former Deputy Senate President’s defection to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

The governor had described Omo-Agege’s move as anticipated and inconsequential to the party’s fortunes in the state ahead of the 2027 general election.

Oborevwori said leaders of the APC in Delta State were aware that Omo-Agege was preparing to leave the party, adding that his actions during the recent senatorial primary election reflected his intention to exit.

But Omo-Agege dismissed claims by the governor that he no longer poses a political threat in Delta State. He insisted that his growing influence and support base were responsible for Oborevwori’s decision to switch from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.

The former Deputy Senate President argued that the APC became a formidable political force in Delta State under his leadership, pointing to the party’s performance in the 2023 general election.

Omo-Agege said the APC won two of the state’s three Senate seats, some House of Representatives seats and a majority of the State Assembly seats in the Delta Central senatorial district.

He said he outpolled Oborevwori in Delta Central during the 2023 elections, claiming that the governor trailed him by about 15,000 votes in the district.

Omo-Agege noted that the electoral outcome demonstrated who enjoyed greater support among voters in their shared senatorial district.

He also reiterated his belief that he won the 2023 governorship election, although he accepted the Supreme Court judgment that affirmed Oborevwori’s victory.

Omo-Agege stressed that he never formally conceded defeat and claimed that many Deltans shared his view that the election outcome did not reflect the will of the people.

According to him, dissatisfaction with the governor’s administration triggered a wave of defections from the PDP to the APC during his post-election thank-you tour across the state.

He alleged that the development caused concern within the governor’s camp and contributed to Oborevwori’s eventual move to the APC.

“If Oborevwori believed that I was not a threat to him, why didn’t he stay back in PDP and take me on in 2027?” Omo-Agege asked during the interview, insisting that the governor’s defection amounted to an admission of his political strength.

He also addressed the controversy surrounding his bid for the Delta Central senatorial ticket, saying he consulted widely with party leaders and supporters before challenging Senator Ede Dafinone.

Omo-Agege claimed he won the APC primary election in 84 of the 85 wards in the district but alleged that the process was manipulated against him by party officials.

On the forthcoming presidential election, Omo-Agege declared support for Peter Obi as his preferred candidate, saying his loyalty now lies with the NDC.

He stated that just as he gave his full support to President Bola Tinubu while in the APC, he remains committed to advancing the interests of his current political platform. (The Nation)