When the throne takes sides: Delta’s traditional institution must not become political campaign platform, by Ejiro Ofoye

The recent decision by the Forum of Urhobo Traditional Rulers, Ukoko R’Ivie R’Urhobo, to adopt Governor Sheriff Oborevwori as the sole candidate of the Urhobo Nation for the 2027 governorship election deserves serious reflection—not merely as a political development, but as a troubling development for the integrity and credibility of the traditional institution in Delta State. According to reports published on September 10, 2026, the forum declared Governor Oborevwori the sole candidate of the Urhobo Nation and called on Urhobo sons and daughters to vote massively for him. The forum also advised other Urhobo governorship candidates to set aside their ambitions and rally behind the incumbent. With respect to our revered royal fathers, this is where the line between traditional leadership and partisan politics becomes dangerously blurred.

Traditional rulers occupy a special place in our society. They are not elected politicians. They are custodians of history, culture, customs, communal identity and social cohesion. Their palaces are supposed to remain places where every citizen—regardless of political party, ideology or candidate—can seek audience, counsel and blessing. A traditional ruler should be able to receive the candidate of the APC, the candidate of the PDP, the candidate of the Labour Party, the candidate of the NDC and candidates of every other political party without any of them feeling that the palace belongs to another political camp. That neutrality is the source of the throne’s authority.

Once a traditional institution begins to openly declare that one candidate is the “sole candidate” of an ethnic nationality and asks the people to vote for that candidate, the institution inevitably enters the political arena. It becomes difficult thereafter to convince the public that the palace remains above politics. The argument that the monarchs are “strictly apolitical” while simultaneously adopting a particular politician as the sole candidate of an entire ethnic nationality is, at the very least, difficult to reconcile. There is an even more fundamental question: who gave any group of traditional rulers the mandate to determine the political choice of every member of an ethnic nationality? Urhobo sons and daughters are citizens and voters before they are subjects of any traditional institution. They belong to different political parties. They have different convictions. Some may support Governor Oborevwori. Others may support Deacon Chris Iyovwaye of the Nigeria Democratic Congress. Others may support candidates of different parties. That is democracy.

The traditional institution should bless all candidates, counsel all candidates to conduct peaceful campaigns, and remind all candidates that political power is temporary while the dignity of the people and the sanctity of the throne are enduring.

That would be a far more powerful role. The palace must not become a campaign office There is another development that makes the present situation even more uncomfortable. In January 2026, the Delta State Government presented 65 new SUVs—60 Toyota Prados and five Land Cruisers—to traditional rulers across the state. The Governor described the monarchs as important intermediaries between government and the people and said the vehicles were intended to facilitate their movement and service to their communities.

The provision of official vehicles to traditional rulers is not, in itself, proof of political inducement. Government can legitimately support traditional institutions, particularly where such support enhances mobility, security and community service. But democracy also requires perception of independence, not merely the absence of proven wrongdoing.

When a government provides expensive official vehicles to traditional rulers and, months later, traditional rulers begin publicly endorsing that same government and its political leader, reasonable citizens are entitled to ask questions. The issue is not necessarily whether there was a transaction. The issue is whether the traditional institution has protected the appearance of independence sufficiently. A throne must not only be independent; it must be seen to be independent. Otherwise, its moral authority begins to suffer. And once the people begin to suspect that royal blessings can follow political benefits, the damage goes beyond one election. It damages the institution itself. If Delta North and Delta South follow the same path

There are already reports and expectations that similar political alignments could emerge from other senatorial districts. If Delta Central traditional rulers openly endorse the incumbent, and traditional rulers in Delta North and Delta South subsequently do the same, what exactly becomes of the traditional institution as an independent moral authority? Will future elections become contests in which each senatorial district’s traditional rulers simply line up behind a preferred candidate?

That would be a dangerous precedent. The traditional institution would gradually cease to be the referee, elder and stabilising force and become another participant in the political contest. And once that happens, every future administration will be tempted to cultivate the institution politically. That is not the direction Delta State should be taking. Political power belongs to the people There is nothing wrong with Governor Oborevwori seeking re-election. There is nothing wrong with individuals, organisations, political parties, community groups, professional bodies or associations endorsing him. If they believe he deserves another term, they have every democratic right to campaign for him.

The same right belongs to Deacon Chris Iyovwaye, other governorship candidates and their supporters. The ballot box—not the palace—must ultimately determine who governs Delta State. Traditional rulers should therefore leave political endorsements to political organisations and allow the people to make their choices freely. A monarch does not lose relevance by refusing to endorse a politician. On the contrary, a monarch becomes more powerful when every politician needs the palace but no politician owns the palace. That is the strength of traditional authority. A humble appeal to our royal fathers This is therefore an appeal, not an attack, to the respected traditional rulers of Delta State.

Please, do not allow the sacred institution of the throne to be dragged into partisan politics. Bless Governor Oborevwori. Bless Deacon Chris Iyovwaye. Bless every other legitimate governorship candidate. Receive them all. Give them the same royal audience. Give them the same counsel. Demand peace from all of them. Warn all of them against violence. And then allow the people to decide. If a candidate wins, the traditional institution should work with the government for the development of the people. If another candidate wins, the same traditional institution should work with that government. That is what it means to be above politics. The traditional ruler belongs to the people—not to a political party. The palace belongs to history—not to an election campaign. The crown represents generations before us and generations yet unborn. It should therefore not be sacrificed for the political contest of one election cycle. Delta State needs its traditional rulers now more than ever—not as political mobilisers, but as guardians of peace, justice, culture and communal dignity.

Let the politicians play politics. Let the people vote. Let the throne Remain the throne.

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