Ovie Omo-Agege, one of Nigeria’s most senior opposition figures, has dramatically quit the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in a move that threatens to further erode the party’s grip on Delta State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Omo-Agege, who served as deputy president of the ninth senate between 2019 and 2023 and holds the traditional chieftaincy title of Obarisi of Urhoboland, confirmed his departure from the APC in a statement dated 22 May 2026, issued through his media adviser, Sunday Areh, in Warri.
“My political objectives and those of my constituents are better served outside the APC,” Omo-Agege said, in language that left little ambiguity about the depth of his disillusionment with the party that had once provided him one of Nigeria’s highest legislative offices.
The former senator said his decision followed what he described as troubling recent developments within the APC’s Delta State chapter, as well as extensive consultations with political associates and supporters. He offered a pointed parting warning: “I will not remain a sitting duck in a party where I cannot advance the interests of Delta Central, Delta State and Nigeria.”
In a formal letter addressed to the APC chairman of Orogun Ward 2, in Ughelli North local government area — the ward through which he held his membership — Omo-Agege requested that his name be struck from all party membership records, registers and communication platforms with immediate effect.
Despite the acrimony implicit in his exit, the former deputy senate president was careful to acknowledge the vehicle that had carried him to political prominence. “I thank the party for the opportunity to serve as Deputy President of the 9th Senate,” he wrote. “I wish the APC well.”
Omo-Agege has yet to announce which party he intends to join, and efforts to reach his media aide for further comment were unsuccessful. His silence on the matter is already fuelling intense speculation in Abuja and across the Niger Delta region about potential political realignments.
The resignation lands at a particularly sensitive moment for the APC in Delta State, where the party has struggled to consolidate influence since losing the governorship. Political analysts say the departure of a figure of Omo-Agege’s stature and traditional standing — particularly one with deep roots in the Urhobo heartland of Delta Central — could trigger a cascade of defections among loyalists and allies in the run-up to the 2027 polls.
