ADC sets sights on unseating Oborevwori in Delta governorship race

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has declared its intention to unseat Delta State governor Sheriff Oborevwori in the 2027 governorship election, signalling an early and ambitious challenge to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has held power in the state since 1999.

The party’s resolve was made public at the inauguration of its newly constituted transition team in Asaba, where ADC leaders said they were laying the foundations for a sustained political push aimed at ending the PDP’s long dominance of Delta politics. They argued that growing public frustration with governance and economic hardship had created space for a viable alternative.

The transition team comprises Barrister George Timinimi, Hon Ozegbe Lawrence, Rev Johnson Urlukpe, Mr Omonigho Anthony and Ambassador Richard Aduvie. According to the party, the team has been mandated to rebuild the ADC’s structures from the grassroots, coordinate mobilisation efforts and prepare the ground for the 2027 electoral contest.

The party announced plans to commence a statewide membership revalidation and registration exercise on 19 December 2025. The exercise, the team said, would cover all 25 local government areas of Delta State and is intended to expand the party’s support base while reactivating existing members.

Party officials said the registration drive would be “aggressive” and inclusive, targeting young people, professionals and voters disenchanted with the established parties. They described the effort as central to positioning the ADC as a serious contender rather than a marginal opposition group.

The ADC also used the occasion to underline its role as a coalition platform. Leaders acknowledged the involvement of political structures associated with Peter Obi, noting that the ADC was emerging as a rallying point for a broad alliance of parties and movements, including elements of the Labour Party. The coalition, they said, was united by a shared objective of redirecting national and state politics.

Describing the party as a “credible alternative” to the Oborevwori administration, ADC leaders said their campaign would focus on competence, accountability and responsive governance. They accused successive governments in Delta of failing to translate the state’s oil wealth into broad-based development and improved living standards.

In selecting candidates for the 2027 elections, the party pledged to prioritise competence above all else. While acknowledging the realities of political negotiations and alliances, the transition team said technical capacity, integrity and a demonstrable commitment to public service would be non-negotiable.

“Competence is our front burner,” one party official said, adding that the ADC was determined to deliver what it described as good governance to the people of Delta State. Political considerations, the party said, would be balanced against the need for effective leadership.

The party also outlined a people-centred policy agenda designed to reflect Delta State’s distinct geography and livelihoods, particularly in riverine and oil-producing communities. ADC leaders said policies would be developed around the everyday concerns of residents, including employment, infrastructure, environmental degradation and access to basic services.

To avoid the internal conflicts that have weakened many opposition parties, the ADC said it had established internal mechanisms for managing disputes and preventing factionalisation. Leaders urged Deltans to view the party not merely as an electoral vehicle but as a “movement” for political and social change.

Reiterating its ideological stance, the ADC described itself as a party “for the common man”, arguing that its founding philosophy was rooted in addressing the economic hardship faced by ordinary Nigerians. While criticising the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the federal level, the party also implied that the PDP-led government in Delta had failed to shield residents from worsening economic conditions.

The ADC further raised concerns about electoral integrity, pointing to ongoing debates in the National Assembly over reforms to Nigeria’s Electoral Act. Party leaders warned that weaknesses in the legal framework could undermine democratic competition and said opposition parties would need to remain vigilant ahead of 2027.

Despite these challenges, the ADC expressed confidence that shifting voter attitudes would work in its favour. Leaders argued that voters were becoming less susceptible to vote-buying and political inducements, and increasingly inclined to vote according to conscience.

With more than two years to the next governorship election, the ADC’s declaration represents an early attempt to reshape the political landscape in Delta State and mount what it hopes will be the most formidable challenge yet to Governor Oborevwori’s hold on power.