Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has scored yet another political victory in his quiet but calculated dismantling of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege’s support base, following the appointment of one of the senator’s key loyalists, Hon. Michael Ibada, as Senior Special Assistant on Political Affairs.
The appointment, made public through a Facebook post by Hon. Edirin Rheriobore JP, has sent shockwaves through the ranks of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Udu Local Government Area and beyond. Ibada, previously a vocal supporter of Omo-Agege and known critic of Oborevwori, has now officially crossed over, a move seen by many as a masterstroke by the Governor.
Sources reveal the appointment was facilitated by a prominent Udu APC figure, Mr. S. K. Palama, suggesting that the Governor’s latest maneuver was not spontaneous but part of a larger political strategy aimed at chipping away at Omo-Agege’s once-solid political structure.
“This is strategic,” a political analyst in Asaba said. “Oborevwori is playing the long game. He’s neutralizing Omo-Agege not with direct confrontation, but by draining his loyalists, one influential ally at a time.”
Just days before his defection, Ibada had paid a courtesy visit to Omo-Agege in Abuja alongside other supporters, reaffirming loyalty to the former Deputy Senate President. That makes his sudden shift not only surprising but also symbolic, a clear signal that the Omo-Agege camp is cracking under pressure.
Read also:
- Omo-Agege threatens to sue Paranran over alleged pipeline security funds scandal
- Delta APC Elders reject Omo-Agege’s 2027 ambition, accuse him of betrayal, fund mismanagement
- Sen. Dafinone denies rift with Omo-Agege, calls for unity in Delta APC
Ibada’s loyalty to Omo-Agege has never been in doubt. In fact, he was among the fiercest critics of Governor Oborevwori in the local APC caucus. At a recent unity meeting in Owhrode Ward 2, he vehemently opposed a vote of confidence in the Governor, calling into question the Governor’s commitment to the party. It took intense intervention from other party leaders to calm the situation.
Fast forward just a few weeks, and the same man is now taking up a top political advisory role under the governor he once criticized, an indication of how dramatically the political tide has shifted in Delta’s APC.
“This is a heavy blow to Omo-Agege,” said a senior APC leader in Udu. “Ibada wasn’t just any foot soldier; he was a mobilizer, a grassroots enforcer. Losing him to Oborevwori sends a loud message, the Governor is now calling the shots in Delta APC.”
Governor Oborevwori, who defected from the PDP to the APC in April, has since been on a mission to consolidate his control over the party in the state. With each new defection, particularly from the Omo-Agege camp, his grip on the party structure tightens.
While Ibada is yet to make a public statement about his decision, political observers interpret his silence as a strategic retreat from the Omo-Agege fold, possibly to avoid backlash while easing into his new political alignment.
The defection has stirred anxiety within Omo-Agege’s loyalist network, where fears are mounting that more allies could be lured away if the former Senator does not act swiftly to rebuild and reassert his influence.
“This is how political dynasties collapse, not with noise, but with silence and slow desertion,” one observer noted. “Oborevwori is dismantling Omo-Agege’s base without a fight.”
As 2027 draws closer, the Governor’s strategy appears clear: absorb, neutralize, and dominate. And with the defection of figures like Ibada, he may be succeeding faster than many expected.
