From Francis Sadhere, Warri
The Forum of Urhobo Traditional Rulers, under the auspices of Ukoko r’Ivie r’Urhobo, has adopted Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, as the sole candidate of the Urhobo Nation for the 2027 governorship election.
The traditional rulers also called on all sons and daughters of Urhobo to rally behind the governor and vote massively for him in the election.
The decision was contained in a press statement issued by the forum on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at the palace of the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, following a consultative engagement with Urhobo governorship aspirants across various political parties.
The traditional rulers said the decision was aimed at preserving the unity, peace and progress of the Urhobo Nation, amid what they described as a growing wave of political tension, hostility and thuggery across Urhobo land.
Chairman of the forum and Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, HRM Dr. Emmanuel E. Sideso, Abe 1, JP, OON, said traditional rulers, although apolitical, could not remain silent when political developments threatened the security, wellbeing and social harmony of their people.
According to the forum, every Urhobo son and daughter has the constitutional right to aspire to the highest political offices, but political ambitions should not be allowed to create division or hostility among the people.
The traditional rulers said: “Politics should be a peaceful civic engagement, not a do-or-die affair,” adding that they had therefore counselled all Urhobo governorship aspirants to exercise restraint, embrace peace and preserve brotherhood.
The forum noted that the incumbent governor was an “illustrious son” of the Urhobo Nation and maintained that attempts by individuals or groups to promote division, rivalry and political thuggery within Urhobo land would amount to a disservice to the collective interest of the people.
The traditional rulers further said they had advised all Urhobo sons contesting the 2027 governorship election to set aside their individual ambitions and rally behind Governor Oborevwori.
They cited what they described as the governor’s “unprecedented development” across Delta State as part of the reasons for adopting him as the sole candidate of the Urhobo Nation.
The forum also urged Urhobo people not to divide their votes unnecessarily, noting that when it was the turn of Delta South or Delta North to produce the governor, the people from those senatorial districts traditionally rallied behind their own.
The traditional rulers stressed that the decision was binding on all Urhobo sons and daughters, irrespective of whether they were invited to the consultative meeting or not.
They appealed to political actors across Urhobo land to prioritise peace and unity as the 2027 election approaches, warning against actions capable of setting the people against one another.
The statement was also signed by the Ovie of Agbarha-Otor Kingdom and Secretary of Ukoko r’Ivie r’Urhobo, HRM Amb. Dr. Richard Oghenevwogaga Ebelle Okoroefe.
The Forum of Urhobo Traditional Rulers, under the auspices of Ukoko r’Ivie r’Urhobo, has adopted Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, as the sole candidate of the Urhobo Nation for the 2027 governorship election.
The traditional rulers also called on all sons and daughters of Urhobo to rally behind the governor and vote massively for him in the election.
The decision was contained in a press statement issued by the forum on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at the palace of the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, following a consultative engagement with Urhobo governorship aspirants across various political parties.
The traditional rulers said the decision was aimed at preserving the unity, peace and progress of the Urhobo Nation, amid what they described as a growing wave of political tension, hostility and thuggery across Urhobo land.
Chairman of the forum and Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, HRM Dr. Emmanuel E. Sideso, Abe 1, JP, OON, said traditional rulers, although apolitical, could not remain silent when political developments threatened the security, wellbeing and social harmony of their people.
According to the forum, every Urhobo son and daughter has the constitutional right to aspire to the highest political offices, but political ambitions should not be allowed to create division or hostility among the people.
The traditional rulers said: “Politics should be a peaceful civic engagement, not a do-or-die affair,” adding that they had therefore counselled all Urhobo governorship aspirants to exercise restraint, embrace peace and preserve brotherhood.
The forum noted that the incumbent governor was an “illustrious son” of the Urhobo Nation and maintained that attempts by individuals or groups to promote division, rivalry and political thuggery within Urhobo land would amount to a disservice to the collective interest of the people.
The traditional rulers further said they had advised all Urhobo sons contesting the 2027 governorship election to set aside their individual ambitions and rally behind Governor Oborevwori.
They cited what they described as the governor’s “unprecedented development” across Delta State as part of the reasons for adopting him as the sole candidate of the Urhobo Nation.
The forum also urged Urhobo people not to divide their votes unnecessarily, noting that when it was the turn of Delta South or Delta North to produce the governor, the people from those senatorial districts traditionally rallied behind their own.
The traditional rulers stressed that the decision was binding on all Urhobo sons and daughters, irrespective of whether they were invited to the consultative meeting or not.
They appealed to political actors across Urhobo land to prioritise peace and unity as the 2027 election approaches, warning against actions capable of setting the people against one another.
The statement was also signed by the Ovie of Agbarha-Otor Kingdom and Secretary of Ukoko r’Ivie r’Urhobo, HRM Amb. Dr. Richard Oghenevwogaga Ebelle Okoroefe.
