Natufe Rejects Urhobo Monarchs’ Endorsement Of Oborevwori For 2027 Delta Governorship

Professor Igho Natufe, President General of the Okpe Union Worldwide, has criticised the reported endorsement of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori as the sole candidate of the Urhobo nation for the 2027 governorship election.

Natufe, in a statement issued in Lagos on Thursday, also urged members of the Forum of Urhobo Traditional Rulers, known as Ukoko R’Ivie R’Urhobo, to reverse the declaration, arguing that the involvement of traditional rulers in partisan politics could undermine the authority and dignity of their traditional institutions.

The Forum of Urhobo Traditional Rulers had reportedly endorsed Oborevwori as the sole Urhobo candidate for the 2027 governorship election and declared that no other Urhobo governorship aspirant would be received or given royal blessings by traditional rulers in Urhobo land.

Natufe questioned how the forum could describe itself as apolitical while making what he characterised as a political endorsement. He argued that traditional rulers who openly support political candidates risk alienating citizens who support other political parties or candidates.

He also criticised the participation of the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, HRM Orhue I, in the gathering, alleging that it amounted to subsuming the Okpe ethnic identity under the broader Urhobo appellation.

Natufe maintained that Okpe is a distinct ethnic nationality with its own history, language, traditions and cultural identity. He cited the position of the Udogun Okpe, the supreme organ of traditional administration in Okpe Kingdom, which recognises Okpe as a distinct and autonomous kingdom.

According to him, traditional rulers should remain above partisan politics because their subjects have different political affiliations and are entitled to choose their preferred candidates in democratic elections.

He further referenced the Orodje’s reported statement in March 2025 that Deltans would vote for President Bola Tinubu in 2027, as well as the alleged support for Peoples Democratic Party candidates by a faction of the Okpe Union during the 2023 elections.

Natufe said the outcome of the 2023 elections demonstrated that voters could make independent choices despite endorsements by traditional institutions. He cited the victories of Okakuro Ede Dafinone of the All Progressives Congress and Ben Etanabene of the Labour Party in the Senate and House of Representatives elections respectively.

He urged Okpe people and other Deltans to exercise their constitutional right to choose candidates according to their convictions, stressing that traditional rulers should not dictate how citizens vote.

“The Will of the People must prevail over the dictatorial decree of any traditional ruler,” he said.