2023: Anxiety As Okowa, Ibori Troops Stage Final Battle For Delta

Anxiety has taken over the polity in Delta State ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP 2023 governorship primaries with fears that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa may find it difficult pushing forward his favoured successor despite victories by his allies in the State and National Assembly primaries.

GWGNG reports that the apprehension is coming against the background of much intrigues shadowing the poll. The intrigues have been exacerbated by the actions of some leading political actors behind the scene.

The main players in the election include the speaker of the House of Assembly, Sheriff Oborevwori, former commissioner and chief of staff to the governor, David Edevbie, Mr Peter Mrakpor, SAN Senator James Manager and the deputy governor of the state, Kingsley Otuaro.

GWGNG reported late on Monday that Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi who had been visible in most of the primaries since 1999 withdrew at the last moment on Monday.

Multiple sources on the ground say that the outgoing governor of the state is backing Sheriff as his successor against the desire of the penultimate governor of the state, James Ibori who is backing Edevbie.

Edevbie to the annoyance of the governor’s camp has also been endorsed by the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU.

Sources say that Mrakpor may be the alternative to the Okowa camp in the face of the challenges facing Sheriff, but issues around his endorsement had not been settled.

Senator Manager who is Ijaw is one of the enduring political forces in the state has the challenge of coming from the Delta South, an area that held the governorship just before Okowa.

However, Manager who was the first state chairman of the PDP in Delta has bridges across the state and could pose a challenge to anyone. Also formidable is Otuaro who it is whispered has the backing of a renowned former militant leader.

Ahead of the governorship primaries the forces loyal to Okowa seemed to have prevailed in most areas of the state with those he backed winning in majority of the areas.

However, the Okowa camp GWGNG gathered is challenged by the personality of the aspirant it has presented. There are fears that the governor may not be able to push forward the candidate in a cosmopolitan state like Delta.

“Delta has passed the stage that someone like Sheriff will be governor,” a political actor privy to the fears of the governor’s camp told GWGNG late on Monday.

The development it was said has put the contest into an unpredictable state with anxiety despite the overwhelming electoral superiority of Governor Okowa as reflected in the primaries so far conducted in the 2023 Delta PDP primaries.

GWGNG reports that Okowa got the advantage after statutory delegates comprising mainly those who could have challenged him were removed from the fray by President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal to sign the electoral act amendment bill.

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