Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Dr. Obiuwevbi Ominimini, the Nigeria Democratic Congress House of Representatives candidate for Ughelli/Udu Federal Constituency, has accused Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and the All Progressives Congress of mobilising thugs to attack NDC members during a campaign march in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area. The attack occurred on Friday, September 18, 2026, during the party's "1,000,000-Man March for NDC Candidates, 5-over-5," a mobilisation exercise in support of the party's candidates across the state.
According to accounts from the scene, the NDC supporters, including members of the Obidient and Kwankwasiyya movements, were marching near the Warri Airport area when they were confronted by a group of armed men described as political thugs. Videos circulating on social media showed NDC supporters in blue shirts holding their ground and using sticks to fend off the attackers, who were eventually forced to retreat. One supporter, who appeared to have been injured in the confrontation, was heard saying, "He stabbed me. Look at the thugs, they came to attack us. The security personnel are watching. We must face them. We are fully ready for them."
The attack comes amid a broader pattern of political violence in Delta State ahead of the 2027 general elections. In August 2026, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, the NDC's Delta Central senatorial candidate, accused Governor Oborevwori of sending thugs to destroy his campaign venue in Effurun and attack his supporters. The Delta State APC had dismissed those allegations as a smear campaign. In July 2026, a political meeting in Effurun was disrupted by suspected thugs wielding stones, machetes, and bottles, leaving several people injured. The NDC has consistently alleged that the state government is using its power and resources to stifle opposition activities and create a climate of fear ahead of the elections.
Ominimini, a prominent Delta State politician and Publicity Secretary of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, has been a vocal critic of the Oborevwori administration. In May 2026, he accused the governor of sacrificing the Urhobo nation for his 2027 political ambition. His decision to contest the Ughelli/Udu Federal Constituency seat on the NDC platform followed his defection from the APC, where he had questioned the fairness of the party's primaries. The attack on the Effurun march is the latest flashpoint in the escalating political confrontation between the ruling APC in Delta State and the opposition NDC, and it raises urgent questions about the safety of political actors and the integrity of the electoral process as the 2027 elections approach.
As of the time of filing this report, the Delta State Police Command had not issued an official statement on the incident. It remains unclear whether any arrests have been made or whether the injured supporters have received medical attention. The NDC has vowed not to be intimidated, with Ominimini insisting that the party will continue its campaign despite the attack. For the people of Delta State, the incident is a stark reminder of the violence that has come to define the state's political landscape, and a warning that the road to 2027 may be paved with blood.
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