Delta opposition candidate demands spending details and jobs

Chris Iyovwaye, the Nigeria Democratic Congress candidate for governor of Delta State in 2027, has called for greater accountability, transparency and job creation in the state. He made the demands in a statement responding to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s Independence Day message, which urged Nigerians to embrace sacrifice, courage and patriotism. Iyovwaye said Deltans had made significant sacrifices and argued that the state’s leadership should demonstrate a comparable commitment through development programmes and public policies.

He asked the administration to publish a breakdown of revenue and Federation Account allocations spent between 2023 and 2026. He specifically questioned how much of the 2025 Federation Account windfall went to capital projects that created jobs, and how much was used for recurrent expenditure and what he described as political settlements. The candidate also called for economic activity to be revived around Delta’s ports in Warri, Koko, Sapele and Burutu.

He said the facilities could provide jobs for 50,000 Deltans, without providing further details. Iyovwaye said patriotism should be reflected in employment, functioning ports, hospitals, roads, schools and clean water. He acknowledged the state government’s increase of the minimum wage to N77,500 but said rising living costs remained a concern.

He called for a “reset” focused on transparency, industrialisation, job creation and accountable governance, and urged residents to remain prayerful while also taking an active interest in the state’s affairs.