The Governorship Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Deacon Chris Iyovwaye, has declared the only the Delta State electorate will decide who their next governor will be and not any individual or groups.
He made the statement as a reaction to a recent communique issued by the Ukoko
R’Ivie R’Urhobo in which the royal fathers expressed their support for the incumbent Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, as the “sole candidate” of the Urhobo Nation for the 2027 governorship election.
While acknowledging the rights of the traditional rulers to their choice of governorship candidate for the 2027 election in the state Deacon Iyovwaye stated that under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, “the electorate alone has the authority to elect the Governor of Delta State through the ballot box”.
He said; “I have read the communiqué issued by the Ukoko R’Ivie R’Urhobo, in which our revered forum of Urhobo traditional rulers expressed support for the incumbent Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, as the “sole candidate” of the Urhobo Nation for the 2027 governorship election.
“I hold our royal fathers and the exalted institutions they represent in the highest esteem. They are sacred custodians of our history, culture, customs and communal values.
With that deep respect, we must clearly distinguish between traditional counsel and constitutional authority.
“Our royal fathers have every right to express their views and give guidance where necessary. However, under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the electorate alone has the authority to elect the Governor of Delta State through the ballot box. An endorsement, no matter how dignified its source, cannot supersede or extinguish Deltans’ democratic right to choose their leaders.
“As an Urhobo man, I deeply understand the value of unity. But Delta State belongs to all of us — Urhobo, Ijaw, Itsekiri, Isoko, Anioma, and every community that calls this state home.
The governorship is a sacred trust sought from all Deltans, not a title conferred by an ethnic consensus.
Before any endorsement is treated as a final political verdict, Deltans deserve to ask a fundamental question:
What exactly is being endorsed?
Are we endorsing the number of sustainable jobs created for our unemployed youth?
The industries established?
The businesses enabled to grow?
Reliable power and infrastructure for small businesses?
A stronger healthcare system?
Better educational opportunities?
Or a credible strategy to diversify our economy beyond dependence on oil revenues?
The argument that Delta State lacked resources can no longer be accepted as a sufficient explanation for the challenges confronting our people.
The State Government’s 2026 budget proposal projected total expenditure of ₦1.664 trillion, including ₦720 billion from statutory allocation, ₦250 billion from internally generated revenue and ₦120 billion from VAT.
The Government also acknowledged increased inflows through FAAC following the removal of the petroleum subsidy.
Accordingly, the central question should no longer simply be:
“How much revenue does Delta State receive?”
The more important question is:
“What measurable economic transformation are Deltans receiving in return for these substantial resources?”
And this question must be addressed at both the state and federal levels.
The All Progressives Congress is currently the ruling party in Nigeria, while Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has chosen to align Delta State politically with the APC.
The Governor has publicly said that his decision to join the APC was driven by the need to align Delta with the Federal Government and that the alignment has enhanced access to resources and improved governance outcomes.
He has also described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election as his “number one political project.”
That political alignment therefore creates an even greater obligation to demonstrate tangible results.
Deltans should not be asked to celebrate political alignment when what they require is meaningful economic transformation.
If alignment with the Federal Government is presented as an advantage, then the people are entitled to ask: Where are the measurable benefits?
The APC-led government must be assessed by the outcomes its policies have produced for ordinary Nigerians. Similarly, the Delta State Government must be evaluated on how effectively it has deployed the resources available to it.
The APC cannot seek another mandate from Deltans on the basis of promises alone. It must account for its results.
Where those results have fallen short of the expectations of our people, we must have the courage to say so:
The APC has not delivered the transformation Deltans deserve.
This is not a matter of political bitterness. It is a matter of accountability.
If an administration has access to greater resources, it should create greater opportunities.
If government revenue increases, businesses should experience tangible benefits.
If billions are invested in infrastructure, the productive economy should become stronger.
If political alignment with the Federal Government is presented as an advantage, Deltans should be able to see its benefits in their communities, businesses, farms, schools, hospitals and household incomes.
Political alignment is not development.
Budgets are not development.
Contracts are not development.
Development is measured by the extent to which government improves the lives and economic prospects of its people.
The present administration has reported major investments in roads, bridges and other infrastructure and has identified infrastructure expansion, human-capital development and economic growth among its priorities.
Those projects should be acknowledged where they serve the people.
But expenditure is not the same thing as transformation.
A government can spend billions of naira and still leave fundamental questions unanswered.
How many sustainable private-sector jobs have been created?
How many new industries are operating and employing Deltans?
How many young people who would otherwise leave Delta for Lagos, Abuja or overseas now have viable opportunities at home?
What measurable improvement has occurred in the business environment?
What is being done to provide the reliable infrastructure that allows businesses to survive and expand?
What measurable progress has been made in healthcare and education?
And, perhaps most importantly:
How much stronger is the productive economy of Delta State today than itaders.
“As an Urhobo man, I deeply understand the value of unity. But Delta State belongs to all of us — Urhobo, Ijaw, Itsekiri, Isoko, Anioma, and every community that calls this state home.
The governorship is a sacred trust sought from all Deltans, not a title conferred by an ethnic consensus”.
He explained that what should determine the final choice of Governor for Delta State are:
the state of youth unemployment, poverty, sustainable development, regular power supply and infrastructure, healthcare, education, among other indices of good governance.
He argued that earlier excuse that Delta State lacked resources was no longer tenable as a sufficient explanation for the challenges confronting the people.
Deacon Iyovwaye, observed that the State Government’s 2026 budget proposal projected total expenditure of ₦1.664 trillion, including ₦720 billion from statutory allocation, ₦250 billion from internally generated revenue and ₦120 billion from VAT.
The Government also acknowledged increased inflows through FAAC following the removal of the petroleum subsidy.
He asked; “How much revenue does Delta State receive?
“What measurable economic transformation are Deltans receiving in return for these substantial resources?”
And this question must be addressed at both the state and federal levels.
The All Progressives Congress is currently the ruling party in Nigeria, while Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has chosen to align Delta State politically with the APC.
The Governor has publicly said that his decision to join the APC was driven by the need to align Delta with the Federal Government and that the alignment has enhanced access to resources and improved governance outcomes.
He has also described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election as his “number one political project.”
That political alignment therefore creates an even greater obligation to demonstrate tangible results.
Deltans should not be asked to celebrate political alignment when what they require is meaningful economic transformation.
If alignment with the Federal Government is presented as an advantage, then the people are entitled to ask: Where are the measurable benefits?
The NDC governorship candidate assured that he would not step down from the contest but campaign peacefully, constructively and firmly.
