Delta State – As political debates rages on following the groundbreaking defection of Governor Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori and the overwhelming majority of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) structure to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Comrade Francis Obule, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Political Matters from Okuovu 1, Ozue District, Sapele LGA, has declared in strong terms that “Governor Oborevwori is an asset to the APC, not a liability.”
Obule’s statement comes in response to comments by Collins Eselemo, a chieftain of the APC, who publicly criticized the Governor, labeling him a “liability” and accusing him of land grabbing. Eselemo further alleged that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not require Governor Oborevwori to win elections in Delta State, a claim that many within and outside the APC have since described as “misguided, divisive, and out of touch with present realities.”
In his passionate defense of the Governor, Comrade Obule described Eselemo’s remarks as “a lone voice of bitterness that stands contrary to the overwhelming joy and strategic welcome Governor Oborevwori has received within the APC nationwide from the Presidency to the grassroot.
Hon. Obule pointed out that what happened is a tsunami that is redifining. Delta Politics because of the historic nature of Oborevwori’s defection, which triggered what many are calling the biggest political realignment in Delta State’s democratic history. With over 95 percent of the PDP structure decamping alongside the Governor, the scale of the political shift has been nothing short of a tsunami.
Among those who followed Governor Oborevwori to the APC are:
Members of the National Assembly
Members of the Delta State House of Assembly
All 25 Local Government Chairmen
Hundreds of Councillors
Ward Chairmen and influential grassroots mobilizers
“The Exodus is unprecedented,” Obule noted. “Delta PDP has effectively collapsed into APC under the visionary and unifying leadership of Governor Oborevwori. That alone is proof that he is a political colossus and a game-changer for APC, not just in Delta State, but across the South-South.”
National Leadership Welcomes Governor Oborevwori with Open Arms
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is elated by the Governor’s defection, seeing it as a strategic masterstroke that consolidates the APC’s hold on the Niger Delta. According to insiders, the President sees the Governor as a bridge-builder who can galvanize support across party lines, ethnic divides, and geopolitical boundaries. To affirm this view, Mr President hosted Governor Oborevwori in the Aso Rock Villa.
The National Chairman of the APC, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, has also expressed deep satisfaction, describing Oborevwori’s entry into the APC as “a blessing that will reposition the party’s electoral fortunes in the oil-rich region.”
“Governor Oborevwori brings structure, numbers, credibility, and experience,” Ganduje have acknowledged.“He is a sitting Governor who enjoys massive support from the grassroots. APC is lucky to have him.”
On the Land Allegation: Personal Grievance, Not Public Truth
Reacting to Eselemo’s land compensation allegation, Comrade Obule dismissed it as a “personal issue that should not be politicized.” According to him, land acquisition processes in the state follow legal frameworks and due process. “It is unfortunate that Mr. Eselemo would attempt to turn a private grievance into a political attack on a man whose popularity and achievements are towering across Delta State.”
Oborevwori’s MORE Agenda: A Template for Good Governance
Governor Oborevwori’s development blueprint, known as the MORE Agenda – Meaningful Development, Opportunity for All, Realistic Reforms, and Enhanced Peace and Security – has begun transforming the socio-economic fabric of Delta State. Projects in roads, education, healthcare, youth empowerment, and rural development continue to earn him accolades, even from previous critics.
Obule emphasized that “the people are not blind. They see progress, they feel inclusion, and they are standing by their Governor because he has proven himself as a servant-leader.”
A Word of Caution and Unity
Hon. Obule urged party members to rise above personal interests and embrace unity for the greater good of the APC and Delta State. “We must understand that politics is a game of numbers and influence. Governor Oborevwori has brought both in abundance. The wise thing is to welcome him, collaborate with him, and move the party forward. Any attempt to pull him down is a disservice to the APC.”
Conclusion
As the political landscape of Delta State continues to transform, one thing remains clear—Governor Sheriff Oborevwori is not just a strategic addition to the APC; he is a cornerstone for its future in the region. With overwhelming support from the grassroots, party leaders, and the Presidency, the narrative is rapidly changing: Oborevwori is not a liability, he is an undeniable asset.
