Deacon Chris Iyovwaye, governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Delta State, has pushed back against the recent endorsement of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori by the Ukoko R’Ivie R’Urhobo, the apex forum of Urhobo traditional rulers, insisting that no royal communiqué can override the constitutional right of Deltans to choose their leader at the ballot box.
In a press release issued on Friday, Iyovwaye said he holds the traditional institution in the highest regard as custodians of Urhobo history and culture, but drew a firm line between “traditional counsel and constitutional authority,” noting that under the 1999 Constitution, only the electorate has the power to elect a state governor. He argued that Delta belongs to all its peoples, not to any single ethnic bloc, listing the Urhobo, Ijaw, Itsekiri, Isoko and Anioma among the communities with equal stake in the state’s governance.
Rather than treat the traditional rulers’ endorsement as a settled political verdict, the NDC candidate urged Deltans to interrogate what exactly is being endorsed, questioning how much of the state’s budget has translated into jobs, industries, healthcare, education and a diversified economy away from oil dependence. He cited the state’s 2026 budget proposal of ₦1.664 trillion, made up of ₦720 billion in statutory allocation, ₦250 billion in internally generated revenue and ₦120 billion in VAT receipts, alongside increased FAAC inflows following the removal of the petroleum subsidy.
Iyovwaye argued that with Governor Oborevwori having openly aligned Delta State with the ruling All Progressives Congress at the federal level, describing President Bola Tinubu’s re-election as his “number one political project,” there is a correspondingly greater duty to show measurable outcomes for that alignment. He maintained that political alignment, budgets and contracts do not, on their own, amount to development, and that Deltans deserve to see the benefits of federal alignment reflected in their communities, businesses, farms, schools, hospitals and household incomes.
The candidate said the 2027 election should be fought as a referendum on performance, accountability, competence and vision rather than on endorsements or political arrangements. He announced plans to formally request an audience with the Ukoko R’Ivie R’Urhobo to present his own vision directly, saying he seeks no confrontation with the institution but believes traditional rulers, like ordinary Deltans, deserve to hear from every serious contender for the state’s leadership.
Iyovwaye closed his statement by affirming his respect for the traditional rulers and for Oborevwori’s right to contest, while stressing that the final judgement belongs to Deltans alone. He said his campaign would continue “peacefully, constructively and firmly,” and that he would not be stepping down from the race.
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