Oborevwori Sheriff Francis Orohwedor
Oborevwori Sheriff Francis Orohwedor is a Nigerian politician who is the All Progressives Congress (APC) nominee for the 2027 Governorship Elections in Delta.
Biography
Sheriff Francis Orohwedor Oborevwori (born 19 June 1963) is a Nigerian politician who has served as the governor of Delta State since 2023. He previously served as speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, representing the Okpe Constituency of Delta State under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from 2017 to 2023.
Oborevwori was born on 19 June 1963 to the family of Chief Samuel and Mrs. Esther Oborevwori of Osubi town in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State. He began his education at Alegbo Primary School and completed his secondary education at Oghareki Grammar School, Oghareki.
He earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, in 2004 and later obtained a master's degree in political science from Delta State University, Abraka, in 2010.
Oborevwori is an alumnus of the Alliance Manchester Business School of Manchester University, where he completed a Leadership Executive Certificate Programme, and the London School of Economics and Political Science, where he received a certificate in Leading Inclusive Development.
Oborevwori began his political career as a grassroots politician and served as the chairman of the Okpe Community. He came into prominence in 2015 when he was elected as the representative of the Okpe State Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly under the PDP, after 19 years of public service as a councillor starting in 1996.
He was elected speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly on 11 May 2017 following the impeachment of the then speaker, Rt. Hon. Monday Igbuya. He was re-elected in 2019 for a second term as the speaker, representing Okpe State Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly.
Declared governor-elect of Delta State on 20 March 2023 after winning the gubernatorial elections on 18 March 2023, he defected to the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in April 2025, along with Ifeanyi Okowa and all PDP members in Delta.
On 12 October 2025, the APC in the state adopted him and President Bola Tinubu as their sole candidates for the 2027 general elections.
A member of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered), Chartered Management Consultants (Canada), and Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (FICMC), Oborevwori was honored by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) with a Legislative Icon Award in 2018 for his educational initiatives and scholarship programs benefiting students across Delta State.
He was also conferred with the chieftaincy title of Ukodo of Okpe by Orhorho I, the Orodje of Okpe, in recognition of his contributions to the growth and development of the Okpe Kingdom.
In 2018, Oborevwori provided scholarships to 25 indigene and non-indigene students in Okpe Local Government for the 2018/2019 academic session. He launched the Oborevwori Foundation Scholarship Scheme, distributing entrepreneurship and support items worth six million naira, including 24 buses/cars, 10 tricycles, 20 hairdressing salon kits, 40 grinding machines, 30 sewing machines, 20 deep freezers for market women, and clothing for hundreds of widows.
Married to Mrs. Tobore Oborevwori, she was reportedly abducted by gunmen along Osubi road in Okpe Local Government Area in May 2011. The culprits were later arrested and sentenced to 21 years in prison.
Party Positions
Policy positions from the All Progressives Congress (APC) party manifesto.
Agriculture
Launches the Irrigate Nigeria Project as a public-private partnership to develop small-scale irrigation and water catchment systems using modern technology to boost agricultural productivity.
Security & Defense
Will deploy modern aerial surveillance and advanced technology to monitor and deter intrusions into oil pipelines, power stations, and other critical national infrastructure in real time.
Environment & Climate
Accelerates the environmental cleanup and re-establishment of fisheries and profitable aquacultural activities in the Niger-Delta region to counter violent extremism and poverty-driven disaffection.
Economy & Trade
Will implement the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and additional favorable policies to attract investment in deep-water assets within 6 months, including encouraging signature bonus negotiations and royalty reliefs.
Infrastructure
Creates regional industrial hubs in specific zones (North West, North East, South East, South South, South West, North Central) to focus on labor-intensive manufacturing, with tailored investments (e.g., textiles, dry ports, glass, pottery, solid minerals, regulated mining).
Enterprise grant support
Work with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to simplify loan processes for commercial banks, mandate federally owned banks to provide low-cost loans to youth-led enterprises, and expand business incubation centers to support youth innovation.
Energy
Will mandate gas metering equipment on all facilities where gas flaring occurs within 6 months and establish a special enforcement unit to monitor compliance with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) on gas flaring reduction, with non-compliance leading to financial penalties for affected communities.
Governance & Reform
Reserve at least 3 cabinet positions for individuals under 40 and 6 more positions for members under the age of 40, and mandate that at least 20% of political appointments to Ministries/Dangomas (MDAs) be reserved for individuals under 40.
Education
Raises the priority of addressing out-of-school children, establishes a task force to review and strengthen programs like school feeding, and aims to reduce disaffected youth recruitment by violent groups.
Healthcare
Will establish a network of upgraded, equipped, and staffed general hospitals in every Local Government Area, tertiary facilities in each State, and world-class specialist hospitals in each geo-political zone to improve healthcare accessibility and quality.
Technology & Digital
Supports the development of MSMEs through partnerships with fintech players to expand access to capital and business development services.
Reliefs and scholarships
Commits to a conditional income support program requiring recipients to meet human capital goals (school attendance, healthcare, nutrition) in exchange for payments.
Follow the 2027 race
When someone declares, drops out, or switches party. You'll know.