Former minister of state for education, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, has boasted that he will succeed incumbent Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as the next in the 2023 governorship election in Delta state.
Gbagi also stated that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta has no governorship candidate for the forthcoming general elections in the state.
The former minister had last week announced his withdrawal from the just concluded PDP governorship primaries won by the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori.
Gbagi had also in the letter of withdrawal from the governorship race accused the aide-de-camp to Governor Okowa of threatening his life.
But speaking on Saturday during an interactive session with some selected journalists at Oginibo town in Delta state, the former PDP governorship aspirant stated that he would contest the 2023 governorship election in the state.
He, however, did not disclose how he is going to contest the election.
He also debunked rumours that he had left the party after withdrawing from the PDP governorship primaries.
The renowned businessman and criminologist also stressed that the exercise which produced Oborevwori as the flag-bearer of Delta PDP did not comply with electoral guidelines contained in the nation’s constitution.
Answering questions, Gbagi said, “As it is today, PDP has no governorship candidate. There’s no primaries in Delta state. In the days ahead of us you will know. Okowa will handover power to me by the grace of God next year. The primary election ought to have been conducted in guidance of the Electoral Act. That election is a violation of an existing law – Electoral Act. I couldn’t have participated in such a charade.”
He alleged that delegates were monetarily induced and locked up in hotels in Asaba in violation of the nation’s electoral law.
According to him, “Some of the aspirants paid as high as $7,000, $7,500 and $5,000 to delegates which you journalists know. By appropriate sessions of the electoral act that conduct alone voided the primaries. Secondly, for you to lock people in a house or hotel and give them juju to eat and swear, such action also violates the Electoral Act. For anyone to disposes them of their phones violates the delegates’ liberty and rights.
“I will contest the 2023 governorship election in Delta state.”
He disclosed that he had directed his team of lawyers were currently reviewing the processes leading to the PDP governorship primaries to enable him seek redress in court.
“As it is today, I’m the beautiful bride in the politics of Delta state. All the political parties are courting me. Even the PDP needs to court me because they don’t have a governorship candidate.
“And by the electoral act, all of them who participated cannot participate in another party. You can now see the wisdom I did my letter and withdrew in line with the Electoral Act as a lawyer.
“The conduct of the PDP is voided already. You only need to take steps for it to be voided. Forget the Supreme Court case on Bayelsa”, he added.
While promising to disclose his next line of action, Olorogun Gbagi thanked his supporters and the people of the state for their support since he began his governorship ambition on the platform of the PDP.
NIGER DELTA TODAY learnt that Gbagi has reportedly concluded plans to dump the PDP for another political party in the days ahead under which he is expected to contest governorship election next year.
