2027: Oborevwori banks on 13th-month pay for workers’ support

By Egufe Yafugborhi & Ochuko Akuopha ASABA—Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has linked his administration’s 13th-month salary package to workers’ support for the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2027 general elections, declaring that civil servants have no choice but to vote for the party. Oborevwori spoke yesterday in Asaba during the inauguration of the Delta State APC Campaign Council for the 2027 elections, where he unveiled “MORE Plus” as the theme of his re-election campaign.

The governor, who chairs the campaign council, said the additional salary payment had strengthened the connection between workers’ welfare and the continuity of his administration. “Today civil servants have no choice not to vote us. They have no choice. 13th month (salary) is huge, times two. Some people don’t understand what 13th month,” he said.

Explaining the package, Oborevwori said workers would receive double their regular salary in December, adding that political appointees and public servants were also covered. “What you’re receiving now is times two in December. That is the meaning of 13th month. Whether you’re an appointee, whether a public servant, whether a civil servant, you’re receiving your 13th month,” he said.

He charged members of the campaign council to take President Bola Tinubu’s message to the grassroots and mobilise voters across polling units and wards. Describing membership of the council as a call to service, the governor urged members to work with unity, discipline and dedication to secure victory for Tinubu, himself and other APC candidates. “Our achievements must speak for us, but we must also be prepared to explain them convincingly,” he said, listing infrastructure, education, healthcare, workers’ welfare, youth empowerment and security among the priorities of his M.O.R.E Agenda.

Deputy Governor Monday Onyeme commended Oborevwori for aligning Delta State with the Federal Government and urged party members to consolidate the gains. Onyeme called on the campaign team to publicise Tinubu’s achievements in local government autonomy, education funding, grassroots development, security, electricity and road infrastructure. Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, defended the Federal Government’s economic reforms, arguing that difficult decisions were necessary to address the country’s economic challenges.

He said the reforms had caused temporary hardship but were intended to tackle underlying problems, including the cost of fuel subsidies. Delta APC Chairman, Chief Solomon Arenyeka, said the inauguration demonstrated the party’s readiness to contest and win elections at all levels in 2027. Former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who spoke for Delta North, said expectations were high following the state’s mass defection from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the APC in April 2025.

He urged the council to demonstrate its strength through strong electoral performance, stressing the need to engage voters directly rather than rely solely on rallies. Representing Delta Central, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor welcomed the APC’s emergence as the ruling party in the state and pledged support for the re-election of Tinubu and Oborevwori. For Delta South, former Secretary to the State Government, Comrade Ovuozourie Macaulay, said the administration’s achievements would support the campaign, assuring that the district would work towards delivering substantial votes.

Director-General of the campaign council, Senator James Manager, pledged to work with party leaders and members to secure victory, describing the assignment as a demanding task requiring collective effort and sustained grassroots mobilisation.