Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has said he does not expect the voting trend that helped former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, win Delta State in the 2023 presidential election to recur in 2027.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Tuesday, the governor attributed Obi’s success in the state to the support he received from the Christian community and non-indigenes, especially members of the Igbo community.
Oborevwori stated that his administration has built a stronger relationship with the Igbo community and expressed confidence that they would back the All Progressives Congress (APC) in future elections.
He noted that the Igbo community did not oppose him during the governorship election and has continued to collaborate with his administration for the development of the state.
The governor further said religious leaders who supported his defection to the APC had prayed for the success of the move and would continue to support the party ahead of subsequent elections.
According to him, the circumstances that contributed to Obi’s victory in Delta State during the 2023 presidential poll have changed, and he does not foresee a repeat in 2027.
Oborevwori also expressed confidence that the APC would enjoy broad support across the state in the next general election.
He said: “First and foremost, the Igbo community in Delta State that did that in 2023 they never did it during my election, and we are on the same page.
“I’ve told them vote party this time. They will not vote candidates, they will vote party because of the love they have for me.I have that confidence they will vote the APC.
“There are two factors that happen the other time, the Christian community and the Igbo, the non indigenous, but I’ve been able to manage them. The Igbo and I are working together for the interest of the state.
“I also believe that what happened that time would not happen again.
“This is because the religious leaders, before I move into the APC, we notified them for them to pray for us. So you cannot pray and curse. They have prayed.
“So when the time come for election, I will still go back to them, say, ‘fathers of faith, when I moved the other time, you prayed for us. So for us to succeed, pray again for us to be victorious.’ So that’s the thing.”
