Concerned stakeholders and grassroots supporters of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, have appealed to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to review the political leadership structure in the area ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The stakeholders, in an open letter addressed to the governor, said the political fortunes of Ughelli South had declined in recent years, attributing the development partly to what they described as a centralised decision-making structure and inadequate inclusion of grassroots stakeholders.
They recalled that Ughelli South had, since 1999, remained one of the major political strongholds in Delta State, with the local government consistently recording strong electoral performances.
However, they noted that the trend had changed from about 2018, expressing concern that continued political exclusion could further weaken the party’s grassroots mobilisation ahead of the forthcoming elections.
According to them, “one of the major concerns among party faithful in Ughelli South is the emergence of a political leadership style where critical decisions affecting the entire Local Government are perceived to be concentrated in the hands of one individual or a very small circle.”
The stakeholders argued that such a structure could undermine the contributions of other party members who had worked for the party over the years.
They particularly expressed concern over the alleged marginalization of youths who, according to them, had participated actively in voter mobilisation, campaigns, party meetings and other grassroots activities since 1999.
They said repeated exclusion from political appointments, representation and other opportunities had created frustration and apathy among some party members.
The group warned that when loyal party members felt that their sacrifices were not recognised, they could become less motivated to mobilise voters and participate actively in the political process.
The stakeholders therefore urged Oborevwori to encourage a new political approach in Ughelli South anchored on consultation, fairness, merit, youth participation and grassroots credibility.
They clarified that their call was not for the exclusion of experienced political leaders, but for what they described as “generational inclusion.”
The stakeholders said experienced leaders should continue to provide guidance while competent younger politicians with grassroots acceptance should also be given opportunities to serve.
They further appealed to the governor and other party leaders to support credible and sellable candidates capable of connecting directly with the electorate.
They said candidates should be assessed not only on the basis of political structures or personal relationships but also on their competence, acceptability and ability to mobilise across communities.
“Ughelli South needs candidates who understand the aspirations of the youths, women, traditional institutions, community leaders, professionals, artisans, farmers, traders and other stakeholders,” they stated.
The group also called for wider consultation before major political decisions affecting the local government are taken.
According to them, giving grassroots stakeholders a sense of ownership would help restore confidence and strengthen the party ahead of future elections.
They maintained that Ughelli South had sufficient political talent to reclaim its position as one of the strongest electoral forces in Delta State, stressing that what was required was an environment where such talent could thrive.
The stakeholders appealed to Oborevwori, as the leader of the party in Delta State, to use his good offices to promote a more inclusive and participatory political arrangement in Ughelli South.
They said: “The political future of Ughelli South should not belong exclusively to one person, one family or one political circle. It should belong to all stakeholders who have contributed to the growth and survival of the party.”
The group emphasised that the appeal was not an attack on any individual but a call for political reform, reconciliation and renewal.
They expressed confidence that with greater inclusion, credible grassroots candidates and renewed engagement with youths and other stakeholders, Ughelli South could once again become a strong electoral pillar of the party in Delta State.
They concluded: “A united Ughelli South will deliver. An included youth population will mobilise. A credible grassroots candidate will connect. And a fair political structure will restore confidence.”
The letter as reads
OPEN LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR OF DELTA STATE, RT. HON. ELDER SHERIFF OBOREVWORI
The Need to Re-Consider the Political Leadership Style in Ughelli South
Your Excellency,
I write this open letter with profound respect for your leadership and with a sincere desire to draw your attention to an issue that is increasingly important to the political future of Ughelli South Local Government Area and the overall strength of our great party in the forthcoming elections.
Your Excellency, Ughelli South has historically been one of the strongest political strongholds in Delta State. Since 1999, the Local Government has consistently demonstrated its capacity to deliver impressive electoral victories and has been regarded as one of the highest-performing local governments in terms of party support and mobilisation.
Unfortunately, there has been a noticeable decline in this performance from around 2018 till date. This development deserves serious reflection, not merely as an electoral issue but as a leadership and inclusion issue.
The Challenge of a One-Man Political Decision-Making Structure
One of the major concerns among party faithful in Ughelli South is the emergence of a political leadership style where critical decisions affecting the entire Local Government are perceived to be concentrated in the hands of one individual or a very small circle.
When one person assumes the role of sole decision-maker on behalf of an entire Local Government, the contributions, sacrifices and aspirations of numerous stakeholders can easily be overlooked.
The greatest concern is that many young men and women who have worked tirelessly for the party since 1999 now feel neglected, used and abandoned after years of sacrifice.
These are people who mobilised voters, attended meetings, defended the party, organised campaigns, financed grassroots activities and stood by the party during difficult political seasons. Yet, when opportunities for political appointments, representation and participation arise, many of them allegedly find themselves excluded.
This situation has created frustration and political apathy among a generation that should ordinarily constitute the backbone of the party.
The Consequence Is Already Evident
Your Excellency, when people who have sacrificed for a political organisation repeatedly feel that their efforts do not translate into opportunities or recognition, they gradually lose the motivation to continue making those sacrifices.
This, in our humble assessment, has contributed to the declining electoral fortunes of the party in Ughelli South.
In recent elections, the younger generation and many grassroots stakeholders have increasingly become less enthusiastic about carrying the burden of delivering electoral victories for a structure in which they feel they have little voice.
The unfortunate consequence is that the burden of delivering the party is left increasingly on the same leadership structure that has dominated decision-making.
When the people who are expected to mobilise the grassroots feel excluded from decision-making, electoral performance will inevitably suffer.
Your Excellency, It Is Time for a New Approach
We respectfully appeal to Your Excellency to encourage a new political leadership philosophy in Ughelli South—one built on inclusion, consultation, fairness, merit, youth participation and grassroots credibility.
Political leadership should not be about rewarding only a select few. It should be about creating opportunities for those who have demonstrated commitment, competence and loyalty to the party.
We therefore urge Your Excellency to encourage a system where young people who have worked for the party over the years are brought into the decision-making process and given meaningful opportunities to contribute to governance.
Leadership positions and political appointments should not be deliberately concentrated among members of one family or a small circle of individuals while other loyal party members who have laboured for years are left without recognition or opportunity.
This is not a call for the exclusion of experienced leaders. Rather, it is a call for generational inclusion—a political arrangement where elders provide guidance while young, competent and grassroots-oriented leaders are given the opportunity to serve.
The Need to Project Sellable Grassroots Candidates
As the party prepares for forthcoming elections, we respectfully appeal to Your Excellency and other relevant party leaders to look beyond personal relationships and established political structures when considering candidates.
The party should deliberately identify and support sellable, credible, competent and grassroots-oriented young candidates who can connect with the people and mobilise across communities.
A candidate who is accepted by the grassroots can become a powerful bridge between the party leadership and the people.
Ughelli South needs candidates who understand the aspirations of the youths, women, traditional institutions, community leaders, professionals, artisans, farmers, traders and other stakeholders.
It needs leaders who can walk into the grassroots with confidence because they have built relationships with the people—not merely because they have been endorsed by a particular political structure.
Let Us Rebuild Ughelli South Together
Your Excellency, Ughelli South has the capacity to return to its position as one of the strongest electoral pillars of the party in Delta State.
But this will require a deliberate change in approach.
The party must rebuild trust with the young generation.
It must recognise those who have sacrificed.
It must broaden political participation.
It must discourage political monopolies.
It must promote merit over family preference.
It must consult widely before major decisions are taken.
And, most importantly, it must give the grassroots a sense of ownership of the party.
When the young people of Ughelli South believe that they have a future within the party, they will once again become enthusiastic foot soldiers for its success.
Our Appeal to Your Excellency
We therefore respectfully call on Your Excellency, Rt. Hon. Elder Sheriff Oborevwori, as the leader of the party in Delta State, to use your good offices to encourage a more inclusive and participatory political leadership structure in Ughelli South.
We appeal to you to ensure that the forthcoming political process provides room for new faces, young leaders, credible grassroots mobilisers and competent candidates who can reconnect the party with the people.
Ughelli South does not lack political talent.
What is needed is an environment where that talent can thrive.
The political future of Ughelli South should not belong exclusively to one person, one family or one political circle. It should belong to all stakeholders who have contributed to the growth and survival of the party.
Your Excellency, the time has come to rebuild confidence, restore inclusiveness and return Ughelli South to its place among the strongest electoral forces in Delta State.
A united Ughelli South will deliver.
An included youth population will mobilise.
A credible grassroots candidate will connect.
And a fair political structure will restore confidence.
We therefore urge Your Excellency to consider this appeal not as an attack on any individual, but as a sincere call for political reform, reconciliation and renewal in Ughelli South.
The future of the party depends on our ability to recognise that no single individual can build a successful political future alone.
Let us build a Ughelli South where every stakeholder has a voice, every loyal party member has hope, and every young person who has sacrificed for the party can confidently say: “There is a place for me in the future of our party.”
Long live Delta State.
Long live Ughelli South Local Government Area.
Long live the All Progressives Congress.
God bless Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
Yours faithfully,
Concerned Stakeholders and Grassroots Supporters of Ughelli South
For a More Inclusive, United and Victorious Ughelli South
