Delta Gubernatorial Race: Ibori ‘Relocated’ To Asaba For Okowa

Former Delta State governor, Chief James Ibori may have moved closer to incumbent Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to keep a tab on the political situation as it affects his reelection bid.

BigPen Online reliably gathered that Ibori who has since endorsed Okowa second term ambition, on Sunday went into a closed door meeting with the governor in Government House Asaba after his arrival at the state capital.

According to dependable sources from the state, Ibori arrived Asaba Sunday evening and was ceremoniously received by Governor Okowa with all the paraphernalia of office at the Asaba International Airport, from there they drove in same car to Governor’s lodge.

Although details of their meeting have been kept from the press, sources said it was unconnected to the reelection bid of Governor Okowa who is currently facing the biggest political challenge over his reelection.

Sources said that Ibori must have visited the Governor privately to increase the tempo of his reelection planning and strategizing ahead the battle at hand.

Ibori would be more in Asaba than Oghara, his country home for now as he has taken “the reelection of Okowa as a must”, an associate of the governor told BigPen Online in a telephone conversation.

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The source said the former governor would be joining Governor Okowa in making some political moves during the week.

BigPen Online had reported that the 2019 governorship election would be a battle between friends and foes. This is, apparently because, while Ibori is backing Okowa’s reelection, his predecessor and cousin, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan is fully backing one of their once archrival, Chief Great Ogboru of the APC who is also enjoying a subterfuge backing of other allies of both Ibori and Uduaghan who are in the PDP.

Meanwhile, the state chapter of the PDP has released the second phase of its campaign itinerary for other part of the state.

Director Of Publicity, Delta State PDP Campaign Organization, Dr. Ifeanyi .M. Osuoza in a statement said that the Director-General of the campaign, Rt. Hon. (Chief) Funkekeme Solomon has endorsed the updated campaign itinerary which is reproduced below:

(1). DATE: TUESDAY, 15/01/2019.

       ◼  ISSELE-UKU, ANIOCHA NORTH LGA.

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       TIME: 10AM.

       ◼   AKWUKWU-IGBO, OSHIMILI NORTH LGA

       TIME: 12NOON

       ◼  ASABA, OSHIMILI SOUTH LGA.

      TIME: 2PM

(2).  DATE: WEDNESDAY, 16/01/2019.

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       ◼  ABOH, NDOKWA EAST LGA.

       TIME: 10AM.

       ◼   KWALE, NDOKWA WEST LGA

       TIME: 12NOON

       ◼  OGWASHI-UKU, ANIOCHA SOUTH LGA.

      TIME: 2PM

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(3). DATE: TUESDAY, 22/01/2019.

       ◼  OGBE-IJOH, WARRI SOUTH WEST LGA.

       TIME: 12NOON

       ◼   OVWIAN, UDU LGA

       TIME: 3PM

(4). DATE: WEDNESDAY, 23/01/2019.

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       ◼  BOMADI, BOMADI LGA.

       TIME: 11AM

       ◼   PATANI, PATANI LGA

       TIME: 1PM

(5). DATE: TUESDAY, 29/01/2019.

       ◼  ISIOKOLO, ETHIOPE EAST LGA.

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       TIME: 11AM

       ◼   OTU-JEREMI, UGHELLI SOUTH LGA

       TIME: 2PM

(6). DATE: THURSDAY, 31/01/2019.

       ◼  BURUTU, BURUTU LGA.

       TIME: 11AM

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(7). DATE: FRIDAY, 01/02/2019.

       ◼  OBIARUKU,  UKWUANI LGA.

       TIME: 10AM.

       ◼   AGBOR, IKA SOUTH LGA

       TIME: 12NOON

       ◼  OWA-OYIBU, IKA NORTH EAST LGA.

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      TIME: 2PM