Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has stated that it would be “evil” for residents of the state to vote against President Bola Tinubu in the upcoming 2027 presidential election, pointing to the president’s deep family connections to the region.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, the governor emphasised that Tinubu is the only major presidential contender with direct ties to Delta State, making his candidacy a local priority.
The governor explained that because First Lady Oluremi Tinubu shares maternal roots with the Itsekiri people of Warri, the president is effectively an in-law to the state.
“Among the candidates that emerged, Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the only one that has an affiliation to Delta State,” the governor said.
“The man is an in-law here, and it would be evil to vote against your in-law. It’s a family affair. In the South-South, the people in Delta are saying this is their own. They were deceived before; now they can’t.”
Oborevwori asserted that the people of Delta and the wider South-South region have come to realize the importance of supporting their own, claiming that past political narratives had misled voters.
He noted that the First Lady’s strong presence in the state has deeply solidified the president’s support base, particularly within the Itsekiri ethnic group, while his own position as an Urhobo man serving as governor ensures broader ethnic backing for the administration.
In addition to family ties, Governor Oborevwori strongly defended the Tinubu administration’s aggressive economic reforms, stating that they are yielding tangible financial benefits for the state.
He clarified that the increased revenues currently available to Delta State, which have funded numerous ongoing infrastructure projects, are a direct result of these federal policy changes.
Without these reforms, he argued, states would not have the necessary liquidity to execute capital projects and improve citizens’ lives.
The governor’s comments come on the heels of cultural milestones designed to honor the First Family in the region. In February 2026, the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, officially conferred the prestigious traditional title of Utukpa-Oritse of the Warri Kingdom (meaning “Light of God”) upon the First Lady in recognition of her heritage and national service.
