2027 Delta Central Race: Why Leaders Are Urging Senator Dafinone to Step Aside for Emerhor – Ntekume

An All Progressives Congress chieftain in Delta State, Chief Josiah Ntekume, has explained why leaders are urging Senator Ede Dafinone representing Delta Central Senatorial District to step down for Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, a founding leader of the party in the state.

Ntekume, a member of the Emerhor Political Family, stated that the argument for Senator Ede Dafinone to remain in the race represents a departure from the deeper political ethics, precedents, and zoning agreements that have long maintained balance within Delta Central.

To address the issue of precedent and sacrifice, Ntekume, maintained that in the build-up to the 2023 elections, O’tega Emerhor made a significant and strategic sacrifice by stepping down his senatorial ambition in support of Ede Dafinone.

The development he said was not done in isolation, it was part of a broader political understanding that enabled Ovie Omo-Agege to pursue the governorship, while allowing Okpe to produce the senator.

In an article he released on Sunday, Ntekume stated; “Politics, especially in a plural and sensitive constituency like Delta Central, is not practiced in a vacuum of raw competition alone. It is guided by honour, reciprocity, and respect for agreements, both written and unwritten. Without these, what is left is not democracy, but disorder”.

According to him, that decision was rooted in equity and collective interest, not personal ambition adding that it demonstrated maturity, discipline, and commitment to party cohesion.

“Today, that same spirit of sacrifice is what is being called upon, but this time for Senator Dafinone to do the same”, he added.

He said that the principle of equitable power distribution must not be discarded when it becomes inconvenient, stressing that the understanding in 2023 was clear: “no single locality should dominate both the governorship and the senatorial seat simultaneously”.

Continuing he wrote; “Fast forward to 2027, and the same logic still applies. Allowing Okpe again to produce the senator, particularly when other capable leaders are in the race, would tilt the balance unfairly and undermine the very foundation of inclusion that holds Delta Central together”, Ntekume opined.

“If we dismiss this principle now, we risk creating a dangerous precedent where agreements are only respected when they favour incumbents. That would erode trust and weaken future political cooperation across the district.

“Third, while open primaries are a legitimate democratic tool, they are not the only instrument for political stability. In many cases, consensus, when built on fairness and prior understanding, has proven to be a more stabilizing force than divisive contests. The current situation calls not for a contest of strength, but for a demonstration of statesmanship.

“By stepping down, Senator Dafinone would not be surrendering power; he would be elevating himself as a leader who respects continuity, honours agreements, and prioritizes unity over personal ambition. Such a move would strengthen his political capital far beyond a single electoral cycle.

“Finally, supporting O’tega Emerhor is not a concession to pressure, it is a restoration of balance. Emerhor has paid his dues, demonstrated loyalty, and shown capacity. Equity demands that the pendulum now swings in his favour.

“Delta Central does not just need a winner, it needs cohesion, trust, and a sense of fairness among its constituent parts. Those cannot be achieved through a winner-takes-all primary that ignores prior sacrifices and established understandings.

“In the end, true leadership is not always about contesting; sometimes, it is about stepping aside for the greater good. Senator Ede Dafinone has the opportunity to make that choice, and history will judge him more kindly for it”, he enthused.