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Join for News Updates ✕Delta APC Closes Ranks in Warri as Oborevwori Leads Political Heavyweights to Arenyeka Funeral
Tags: APC Nigeria, Delta APC, Delta Politics, Ifeanyi Okowa, Sheriff Oborevwori, Solomon Arenyeka, Warri
When Delta State Governor and leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Rt. Hon. (Elder) Sheriff Oborevwori, arrived at First Baptist Church, Warri, on Friday with a formidable delegation for the funeral of Mrs. Felicia Oritseolumewo Arenyeka, the occasion brought together a significant cross-section of the state’s political establishment.
Mrs. Arenyeka was the mother of Chief Solomon Arenyeka, Chairman of the Delta State APC.
Oborevwori was accompanied by his wife, Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori, while the gathering also featured immediate past Governor Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, members of the National and State Assemblies, government officials, traditional rulers, community leaders and other political stakeholders.
https://voxnews.com.ng/delcom-2026-oborevwori-communication-experts-asaba/
Among them were Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor; Senators Joel-Onowakpo Thomas and Ede Dafinone; Hon. Nicholas Mutu; Hon. Francis Waive; Lady Catherine Onyeme, wife of the Deputy Governor; and Chief Senator Ighoyota Amori, Ph.D., Chief Adviser to the Governor.
More Than a Funeral Gathering
Political events are often judged by speeches, endorsements and campaign appearances. Yet there are occasions when political relationships are displayed without campaign slogans or party rallies.
Friday’s gathering was one such occasion.
The presence of the governor, his political allies, former political office holders, legislators and community leaders around the family of the state APC chairman offered a visible picture of solidarity.
For Oborevwori, leading the political delegation to honour the APC chairman’s late mother carried both personal and institutional significance.
Chief Arenyeka occupies a central position in the state APC structure, and the governor’s mobilisation of party stakeholders demonstrated the importance of solidarity within a political organisation.
The presence of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa also brought together two significant chapters of Delta’s recent political leadership.
Although the occasion was not a political rally or party convention, the gathering provided a rare public display of political figures standing together outside the usual arena of political competition.
A Message Beyond Politics
The funeral service itself shifted attention from politics to the issues of life, leadership and mortality.
The Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church, Warri, Rev. Jesse Okoroji Jnr., described Mrs. Arenyeka as a “woman of songs” and reflected on her influence on her family and community.
His message, titled “Life’s Practical Challenges to Christians and Office Holders,” spoke directly to the many political leaders present.
The pastor emphasised humility, steadfastness and faithfulness, offering a reminder that political office is temporary while character and service leave longer-lasting impressions.
He also commended the Oborevwori administration for its infrastructure and urban renewal projects in Warri, citing the construction of flyovers, bridges and other projects.
He, however, called for greater attention to the Warri-Sapele-Benin Highway, urging the relevant authorities to accelerate work on the strategic road.
The Politics of Solidarity
The broader significance of the gathering lies in the demonstration of political solidarity.
Political parties are sustained not only by electoral calculations but also by relationships among leaders, stakeholders and members.
By mobilising prominent figures to identify with the APC chairman during a moment of bereavement, Oborevwori demonstrated a form of leadership that extends beyond election campaigns and government meetings.
The occasion also reinforced the idea that political disagreements and competing interests can coexist with shared moments of humanity.
At First Baptist Church, Warri, the political establishment temporarily stepped away from the contest for influence and gathered around a grieving family.
For the Arenyeka family, it was a farewell to a mother. For Delta’s APC, it was a moment of solidarity. And for Oborevwori, it was an opportunity to demonstrate that political leadership also involves standing with members of the political family when they need support.