Ibori’s Dominance Threatened In Delta, Okowa Moves To Stamp Authority

The grip of former governor, Chief James Ibori on the structures of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State, seems to be waning as politicking ahead 2023 general election, have been intensified in the state.

BIGPENNGR.COM reports that Ibori and Okows appear to be walking the tightrope already over the latter successor, a development which has placed the PDP and Okowa-led government in a serious dilemma.

It is believed that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is supporting the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr Sheriff Oborevwori, who hails from Delta Central, although the governor had said openly that he had no preferred candidate.

A major political godfather in the state, Chief James Ibori, was said to have canvassed for his preference, Olorogun David Edevbie, a former finance commissioner, to be the sole aspirant, a request that was allegedly rejected by many stakeholders. The governor had also insisted that all the aspirants must take part in the primary.

It was gathered that the refusal to accept Ibori’s choice as the consensus candidate had created bad blood between Oborevwori and Edevbie’s supporters.

Given the influence of Ibori in the state’s politics, many people believe that the road to securing the party’s ticket would be laced with hiccups for Okowa’s candidate.

The Chairman, PDP Leaders and Stakeholders’ Forum in Delta South, Chief Mike Loyibo, said, “We have agreed to go with the Speaker and ensure that he clinches the ticket of the party.” But the Urhobo Progress Union Worldwide in a statement by its President General, Olorogun Taiga, and others endorsed Edevbie’s aspiration.

Meanwhile, Okowa’s deputy, Mr Kingsley Otuaro, who hails from Delta South and once claimed to be the governor’s anointed aspirant, said having completed the zoning arrangement among the three districts, any zone could produce the next governor.

(…with PUNCH report)