Delta State’s National Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate, Chris Iyovwaye, has publicly rejected the endorsement of incumbent Governor Sheriff Oborevwori by a group of Urhobo traditional rulers ahead of the 2027 election.
Iyovwaye, who is contesting the governorship under the NDC banner, said the monarchs’ support for Oborevwori does not reflect the aspirations of the Urhobo people and urged the traditional leaders to remain neutral in the upcoming race.
The endorsement was issued by several Urhobo monarchs, a prominent ethnic group in Delta State, who praised Oborevwori’s record in office. Iyovwaye countered that political endorsements from traditional institutions should not influence the democratic process.
Delta State, located in Nigeria’s oil‑rich Niger Delta region, has long seen a close interplay between political actors and traditional authorities. The NDC, a relatively new opposition party, is positioning itself as an alternative to the ruling party’s dominance in the state.
While no specific statements from the monarchs were quoted, Iyovwaye’s rejection underscores the contested nature of political endorsements in the lead‑up to the 2027 governorship contest.
<small>Source: Punch Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>