2023: Uncertainty In Delta As PDP Gladiators Meet Today

Uncertainty seems to be hovering around the political space in Delta State as politicking, scheming, plots and intrigues ahead the 2023 general election cast doubt on the unity of People Democratic Party (PDP), the party which had governed Delta State for the past 23 years.

BIGPENNGR reports that there are concerns that the party might implode ahead the PDP governorship primary with the turbulence wrangling over the various elective positions in the state and at the national assembly.

While Governor Okowa who holds power of incumbency is planning to install his men in various positions, his Chief predecessor, Ibori who currently still control a large structure of the party political machinery want to be seen as the one behind the enthronement of key political actors.

Ibori, under whose canopy many of the political gladiators in the state were made including Governor Okowa had remained unwavering about producing his ally, David Edevbie as Okowa’s successor but the governor’s disturbing body language seems he will never allow an Edevbie governorship to sail through.

Although Governor Okowa’s core loyalists had flew rather too early kite of Sheriff Oborevwori, the current Speaker of the state House of Assembly as the governor’s anointed successor, credible sources in the state disclosed that the governor is apparently mulling between his Chief of Staff, Ovie Agas who is also an Ibori protege or his former Attorney General, Peter Mrakpor who has been unassuming with his governorship ambition if the ticket is micro-zoned to the Urhobos.

Sources said that unless it is agree for Edevbie and Oborevwori’s ambition to be sacrifice for enduring peace to reign in the party, Okowa would have preferred Oborevwori’s candidacy who is believed to have the ‘street credibility’ nay the political clout to withstand anyone to be feed from the opposition than Agas and Mrakpor.

Watchers of event in the state said the all-out critical stakeholders meeting of the party which is currently ongoing Tuesday, April 5 at Unity Hall Government House, Asaba, was called to clam nerves ahead the party’s primaries but some pundits say that one of the purpose is to agree firmly on the contentions zoning formula as well as the composition of state, senatorial, local governments and ward ad-hoc delegates to the party and horse-trade on some of positions of interest by the gladiators.

Advertisement

However, Ibori’s much-talked face-off with Okowa over who produce the next governor, was evidence by the latter Saturday, March 19 2022’s public show at the official declaration of Senator Ighoyota Amori to contest for the 2023 Delta Central Senatorial District seat.

His body language had set tongues wagging if the former helmsman was losing ground in the state politics? Ibori was quoted to have fircely asserted, “If anybody that is planning, anybody that is conspiring, anybody that thinks that because I am a former governor they want to conspire to disgrace me, God will disgrace them”.

It was not clear if his assertive words were directed at the governor or his men in the corridors of power but one thing is clear; his posturing at the event appears like someone who was losing ground and was feeling the heat of Okowa’s hardline stance. Political analyst wondered why Ibori unlike the Jagaban of Lagos politics should feel threatened by Okowa if he still hold the ace to subject an incumbent to do his wish.

Ibori’s alleged overbearing posturing in the governor’s camp is linked to his moves to produce the governor’s successor, the Delta Central Senator in Amori in place of Okowa’s preferred choice said to be John Nana, also have his daughter Erhiatake Ibori-Seunu as member of House of Representatives, Ethiope East Constituency against Okowa’s Ben Igbakpa, who is an incumbent among others key political positions, is causing so much turmoil in the state.

Pundit says if Governor Ifeanyi Okowa fails to stem and calm the growing cold rivalry between him and his benefactor, Chief James Ibori, there might be an implosion in PDP that would favour an Omo-Agege governorship candidacy. Analyst says both Okowa and Ibori would have to shift ground for PDP to remain in one piece ahead the 2023 general election.

Omo-Agege, also an Ibori protege and Okowa’s unreported associate who is the current Deputy President of the Senate, though in APC is likely the plan ‘B’ in the governorship politics if PDP gladiators failed to reach a compromise over the next governor of the state.  He is likely going to declare his intention to contest the Delta State Governorship few days from today.

Advertisement

Dependable sources in the state said that PDP risks implosion if gladiators fail to drop their personal interest over the general interest of the party. Already a pan-Urhobo elite group, Ja R’Uhobo (Urhobo Y’Oteri) had warned of possible resistance if the party fails to micro-zone the PDP ticket to Urhobos or tried to foist a state sponsored candidate on the zone.