The governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Chris Iyovwaye, has rejected the endorsement of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori by Urhobo traditional rulers, insisting that traditional institutions cannot determine who becomes governor of the state.

Iyovwaye was reacting to a communiqué issued by the Ukoko R’Ivie R’Urhobo, in which Urhobo traditional rulers endorsed Oborevwori as the “sole candidate” of the Urhobo nation for the 2027 governorship election.

He said traditional rulers, as custodians of culture and tradition, had the right to offer counsel but could not exercise the constitutional powers vested in voters. “I hold our royal fathers and the exalted institutions they represent in the highest esteem.

“With that deep respect, we must clearly distinguish between traditional counsel and constitutional authority. Our royal fathers have every right to express their views and give guidance where necessary.

“However, under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the electorate alone has the authority to elect the Governor of Delta State through the ballot box.

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“An endorsement, no matter how dignified its source, cannot supersede or extinguish Deltans’ democratic right to choose their leaders,” he said.

Iyovwaye urged Deltans to independently assess the performance of the Oborevwori administration before deciding who to support in the 2027 election.

He said issues such as job creation, industrial development, support for businesses, infrastructure, healthcare, education and economic diversification should form the basis of voters’ assessment of the government.

The NDC candidate also questioned the benefits of Oborevwori’s decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He recalled that the governor had justified the move on the grounds that aligning with the Federal Government would improve Delta’s access to federal resources, while also describing President Bola Tinubu’s re-election as his “number one political project.”

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Iyovwaye said the political alignment should therefore produce measurable benefits for the people of Delta State. “If the rationale for political alignment is improved access to federal resources, Deltans should be able to see the impact in their daily lives,” he said.

He maintained that governments at both federal and state levels should be judged by their policies and results rather than their political affiliations.

While acknowledging reported investments by the state government in roads, bridges, human capital development and economic growth, Iyovwaye said the amount of government spending should not, by itself, be equated with economic transformation.

He referred to the Delta State Government’s 2026 budget proposal, which projected total expenditure of ₦1.664 trillion, including ₦720 billion from statutory allocation, ₦250 billion from internally generated revenue and ₦120 billion from Value Added Tax.

“The central question should no longer simply be: ‘How much revenue does Delta State receive?’ The more important question is: ‘What measurable economic transformation are Deltans receiving in return for these substantial resources?’” he said.

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Iyovwaye challenged the administration to provide measurable evidence of sustainable private-sector jobs created, new industries established, improvements in the business environment and infrastructure developed to support businesses.

He also called for clearer evidence of progress in healthcare and education, particularly in terms of their impact on residents.

The NDC candidate further questioned whether Delta State was creating enough opportunities to retain its young population, noting that many young Deltans continue to relocate to Lagos, Abuja and other countries in search of better opportunities.

He said the 2027 election should provide voters with an opportunity to scrutinise the government’s record and compare competing visions for the state, irrespective of endorsements by political or traditional institutions.