The leadership struggle rocking the Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken a fresh turn, as Governor Sheriff Oborevwori is said to be backing the return of current state Chairman, Omeni Sobotie, in a calculated move to steady the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
This development comes even as both Delta North and Delta South remain unyielding in their respective demands for the state chairmanship position, following the political realignment that collapsed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) structure in the state into the APC earlier this year.
According to reliable party sources, Gov. Oborevwori is pushing for a continuity arrangement that would allow Sobotie to continue as state chairman until after the 2027 elections.
Under the reported plan, Sobotie would later resign to pave the way for a new chairman to emerge through a consensus process.
Insiders say the governor’s calculation is simple: avoid an immediate zoning confrontation that could fracture the fragile unity within the newly consolidated APC structure.
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By retaining Sobotie, who is from Delta Central, the political scale between Delta North and Delta South would temporarily remain balanced, preventing either bloc from claiming outright victory.
However, critics argue that the arrangement merely postpones an inevitable zoning decision rather than resolving it.
Delta South leaders have maintained that historical political balancing in the state supports their claim to the chairmanship, especially given the present configuration of top government offices.
They insist their demand is rooted in equity and long-standing power-sharing traditions, not political agitation.
Party insiders say the zone is unlikely to withdraw its position without a clear commitment that zoning principles will ultimately favor it.
Delta North, on the other hand, had earlier convened and openly articulated its interest in producing the next state chairman.
Leaders from the zone are said to view any delay as a strategic attempt to weaken their negotiating strength ahead of future congresses.
The firmness of both blocs has left the governor navigating a delicate balancing act.
Complicating the picture further is the reported opposition of former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, to the Sobotie option.
It was Omo-Agege, who installed Sobotie as APC chairman in 2021.
However, their relationship later deteriorated following internal party disagreements, particularly after Sobotie allegedly aligned with forces opposed to Omo-Agege’s leadership within the state chapter, including allies of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.
Sources within the party suggest that unresolved grievances from that fallout continue to shape the current resistance to Sobotie’s return.
While Gov. Oborevwori’s reported preference for Sobotie is seen by his camp as a stabilizing measure, political observers believe the arrangement could trigger a new internal contest within Delta Central itself, beyond the existing North-South divide.
With Delta North and Delta South standing firm, the proposed continuity plan may serve only as a temporary truce in a larger struggle over control of the party structure ahead of 2027.
For now, the battle lines remain drawn.
The governor appears to have chosen a middle path, but whether that path leads to unity or further confrontation will depend on how long the uneasy balance can hold.
