Former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege has criticized the administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori in Delta State, accusing it of failing to translate substantial public revenues into meaningful development. Speaking during an interview on ARISE News on Wednesday, Omo-Agege stated that the state has little to show for the over N3.15 trillion received in the last three years.
Allegations of Misuse of Funds
Omo-Agege argued that the Oborevwori administration has not justified the huge resources at its disposal. He pointed out that despite the massive inflow of funds, the only visible infrastructure projects are three or four flyovers, questioning whether governance is solely about constructing flyovers. He also alleged that approximately N750 billion of Delta State funds are lying idle with the Central Bank of Nigeria, accusing the government of lacking the capacity to deploy resources to address pressing challenges facing residents.
Political Realignment and Support for Peter Obi
The criticism came as Omo-Agege formally declared support for Peter Obi ahead of the 2027 presidential election, following his defection from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the National Democratic Congress (NDC). When asked who he would support for president in 2027, he replied, “Of course, it’s Peter Obi of the NDC.” Omo-Agege clarified that his backing for Obi does not amount to a rejection of President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, including the removal of the fuel subsidy and foreign exchange reforms. He described these policies as necessary and supported by Obi, but expressed confidence that Nigerians would have greater trust in their implementation under the NDC candidate.
Claims of Abandonment by APC
Omo-Agege, who was the APC governorship candidate in Delta State in 2023, claimed that the ruling party abandoned him and his supporters after Governor Oborevwori and his political associates joined the APC. He stated, “I never left the APC. The APC left me and left my over 240,000 supporters in Delta State.” He also renewed his claim that he won the 2023 governorship election but was denied victory. Although he ruled out contesting the governorship in 2027, he said the NDC has settled on a candidate capable of tackling insecurity, poor healthcare, failing schools, and economic hardship in the oil-rich state.
No Official Response Yet
As of the time of this report, neither Governor Oborevwori nor the Delta State Government has publicly responded to Omo-Agege’s allegations.
