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Omo-Agege Clashes with Delta Govt, Calls for Arrest of Thugs Who Attacked His Campaign Venue
Former Deputy Senate President and Delta Central Senatorial Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, has reacted to the Delta state government’s denial of the alleged attacks on his campaign venue and supporters.
Omo-Agege, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser, Strategy and Communications, Godwin Anaughe, called on relevant security and government agencies to immediately investigate and prosecute suspected thugs involved in the destruction of the campaign venue and attacks on his supporters recently.
Responding to claims by the Delta State Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads and Public Information) Ehiedu Charles Aniagwu who appeared on a television program to denounce the attack, Omo-Agege said, “Deltans have a right to take part in politics without fear or intimidation,” stressing that “they deserve a government that takes political violence seriously—no matter which party it touches.”
He claimed that one Emmanuel Erube was among those involved in the alleged attacks.
“We’re calling for an immediate investigation, in line with Nigerian law, into Emmanuel Erube and everyone alleged to have taken part in these attacks.”
He said, “If the evidence points to criminal responsibility, those responsible should be prosecuted.
“We’re also calling for a full investigation into the threats against Senator Omo-Agege and into whether anyone directed, financed, or facilitated the attacks.”
Anaughe in his reply to Aniagwu following an interview he granted AriseNews recently, said, “On August 13, during our ward-to-ward engagement in Usiefrun, Ughelli South Local Government Area, armed men attacked members of our political family who had gathered to receive us. Six people were injured. Several needed hospital treatment.
“Then on August 21, more than 50 armed men allegedly stormed and destroyed the venue we’d prepared for a campaign meeting in Uvwie. Witnesses say the group’s alleged leader, Emmanuel Erube, threatened that Senator Omo-Agege would be killed if he showed up for campaign activities in the area.”
He insisted, “This isn’t abstract. There are injured people, a wrecked venue, witnesses, and a named individual. These allegations deserve a real, impartial investigation—not a shrug.”
Anaughe also said, “As for Mr. Aniagwu’s claim that Senator Omo-Agege ‘has no message’—that misses the point entirely.
“For months, he’s been going ward to ward across Delta Central, meeting NDC members, supporters, and voters, laying out his programme directly to the people.
“That’s what a campaign is supposed to look like: ideas, engagement, and letting voters decide. Not violence. Not denial,” he maintained.
“Senator Omo-Agege has also raised pointed questions about how public funds have been managed under Governor Sheriff Oborevwori—including more than ₦4 trillion reported to have come into the state, reportedly the largest sum any governor in Delta State’s history has received.
“Deltans deserve a straight answer on where that money went, not a lecture on messaging from a government sitting on that kind of revenue.
“If the government disagrees with Omo-Agege’s policies, fine—challenge them openly. What it shouldn’t do is dodge allegations of violence against his supporters by turning the conversation into a debate about whether he has a platform.
“The argument that Omo-Agege and Oborevwori are running for different offices is beside the point — nobody claimed otherwise. The real issue, still unanswered, is that a sitting Governor who also serves as Delta State’s Chief Security Officer has been credibly linked to a standing order to eliminate a former Deputy President of the Senate. That’s not a campaign footnote. That’s a security and governance question, and it deserves a real answer: investigate it, name those responsible, and make it public.
“Then there’s the Emevor-Orogun Road. Deltans have heard this one before. Okowa promised it. Oborevwori promised it too. It’s one of the oldest lines in Delta Central politics, and it always resurfaces the moment Omo-Agege raises hard questions about mismanagement. Finish the road — people need it. But a construction project isn’t a shield against allegations of political violence.
“No government gets to point at a road with one hand while armed men roam free with the other. Development and security aren’t a trade-off. Deltans shouldn’t have to accept one in place of the other.
“A road doesn’t erase an attack. A construction project doesn’t answer for injured citizens. A television interview isn’t a substitute for an investigation. And a government that keeps acting otherwise is telling Deltans exactly what it’s willing to sacrifice for political convenience.
“Calling Delta State “peaceful” while our supporters are still recovering from an armed attack, and our campaign venue lies in ruins, isn’t just inaccurate — it’s insulting. To the injured. To their families. To every Deltan being asked to nod along.
“If people can be attacked simply for showing up to a political meeting, that should worry everyone—regardless of party. We owe the victims more than talk. We owe them answers.
“One more thing worth saying plainly: Mr. Aniagwu never denied either attack happened. He couldn’t—because they did. Instead of condemnation, Deltans got deflection. And when the response to “our people were attacked, and I was marked for death” is “he’s just seeking attention,” you know the conversation has shifted—away from Omo-Agege and toward whatever the government would rather not answer.
Anaughe further said, “We’re not interested in a political mud fight, and we won’t be talked out of demanding accountability. The people of Delta State have a right to take part in politics without fear or intimidation. They deserve a government that takes political violence seriously—no matter which party it touches.
“Until these incidents are properly investigated and the public gets real answers, no press appearance, campaign slogan, or road commissioning is going to make the underlying questions go away.”
Omo-Agege had recently accused the governor of sending suspected armed thugs to scatter his campaign venue in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area, as well as attacked his supporters on August 21.
He made the allegation after he raised an alarm that his life is in danger and called the Nigerian government and security agencies to hold Governor Sheriff Oborevwori responsible if anything untoward happens to him, members of his family, and supporters.
“And honestly, that message is landing—that’s the part nobody in government wants to say out loud. A commissioner doesn’t go on national television to complain that a candidate “has no message” unless that message is already doing damage”.