Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has said his decision to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) is already yielding positive results, citing improved governance outcomes and stronger alignment with the Federal Government.
Speaking to journalists at the party’s National Elective Convention held at Eagle Square in Abuja, the governor expressed satisfaction with the event, describing it as evidence of the APC’s growing influence and nationwide acceptance.
“I’m happy to be here today. That bold decision we took on April 28, 2025, is manifesting today. I was the first governor after the 2023 election to move into APC.
That was done because we wanted to connect with the centre, and we have connected to the centre,” he said.
Oborevwori explained that his defection was driven by the need to position Delta State for better access to federal support, noting that the move has strengthened the state’s capacity to deliver on key responsibilities.
“We are happy with the decision we took because the policies and programmes of Mr President are working. But you know, it takes time. We know the sufferings of Nigerians; the policies are yielding, it’s a gradual process,” he added.
The governor noted that increased revenue allocations to states have significantly improved their ability to meet obligations such as salary payments and project execution.
“Before now, the money that was coming to the states was not much, and paying salaries was difficult. These days, we can pay salaries, we can pay our contractors. A lot of things are working for us,” he said.
He also pointed to the growing number of governors joining the APC as a sign of confidence in the leadership of President Bola Tinubu.
“If Mr President is not doing well, my other brother governors will not come and join. As we speak today, we are 31 governors in the APC. No political party has gotten 31 governors since 1999,” Oborevwori stated.
The governor further said the turnout at the convention reflected strong support for the ruling party and expressed optimism about its future electoral prospects.
“The crowd you are seeing here today shows that Mr President is focused, he is bold, and he is taking us somewhere. We believe that Nigerians will pay back by re-electing him in 2027,” he said.
On his administration’s performance, Oborevwori maintained that his government is making progress across critical sectors, including infrastructure, healthcare, education, and security.
“In infrastructure, we are doing well. In health and education, we are doing well. In security, we are making progress,” he noted.
He also highlighted improvements in oil production in the state, attributing the increase to relative peace and the absence of recent attacks on oil facilities.
“Delta State remains number one in oil production, and we are going to do more for our people,” he added.
The governor urged residents of Delta State to continue supporting both his administration and the Federal Government, assuring them of sustained efforts to improve living conditions and deliver more dividends of democracy.
