In a significant political development in Delta State, Nigeria, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has initiated a major reshuffle of his cabinet, moving two commissioners and several deputy directors following mounting allegations of financial impropriety involving Internally Generated Revenue (IPP) funds and the imposition of illegal levies. The shake-up, first reported exclusively by SaharaReporters on Friday, February 27, 2026, reflects growing concerns within the state over revenue transparency and fiscal accountability.
According to well-placed insiders, the administration’s decision to reassign the Commissioner for Energy, Sunny Tatabuzogwu, and other key officials was prompted by allegations that certain ministries were implicated in the unlawful collection of levies and the questionable diversion of IPP revenues meant for public projects and development initiatives. Sources familiar with the situation told SaharaReporters that residents and civil society activists had raised persistent complaints that funds generated internally by the state were not being properly accounted for, leading to public distrust and criticism of the government’s fiscal practices.
The insiders noted that frustrations over opaque management of IPP funds intensified when businesses and local stakeholders began to report being charged unofficial fees that lacked legal backing. In response to these concerns, aides to Governor Oborevwori considered the redeployments as part of efforts to restore confidence in the management of state resources and reassure citizens that revenue collection and utilisation would be conducted transparently and within the law.
Although official statements from the Delta State Government have been limited, multiple sources suggest that the governor is keen to reposition his administration ahead of the critical 2027 general elections, where issues of accountability and economic governance are likely to be central to public debate. By reassigning officials seen as being at the centre of controversy, Oborevwori’s government appears to be signalling a commitment to curbing irregular practices and strengthening internal oversight mechanisms.
Political analysts in Asaba described the move as both a damage-control strategy and a governance reset, aimed at addressing perceptions of fiscal mismanagement within the state. They argue that the governor’s willingness to act on allegations of impropriety, even when they involve senior officials in his own cabinet, could help shore up public trust if followed by transparent investigations and clear communication to the public.
Opposition figures, meanwhile, have seized on the developments to call for broader probes into how IPP funds are collected and used in Delta State, urging the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or other anti-graft agencies to examine the matter further. Civil society leaders also reiterated demands for proactive fiscal reforms that would enhance revenue transparency and protect against illegal levies that burden residents and businesses alike.
As of Friday evening, the redeployed commissioners and deputy directors had yet to issue public comments on their new assignments, but political watchers say the ramifications of the reshuffle may extend beyond personnel changes, potentially reshaping how state finances are managed and monitored going forward.
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