A titanic political warfare is set to happen in Delta today. The contest is revolving around four major contenders for the coveted governorship seat. The contenders are Olorogun Barrister Kenneth Gbagi of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Sheriff Oborevwori of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Ovie Omo-Agege of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Ken Pela of the Labour Party.
While Sheriff Oborevwori is the guber candidate of the PDP, the people of Delta believe that the battle for the 2023 governorship is actually in the hands of the governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa. The governor, being the leader of the party, is working assiduously to ensure his party wins the election so as to write his name in gold.
Okowa has invested heavily in the election both in manpower, funds and consultation across the state. Okowa’s influence began from the primaries through to this day that the governorship election is billed to hold. Having lost the presidency, though the battle to reclaim the mandate is still in progress, Okowa will not be willing to cede the governorship to any party other than the PDP to take over from him on May 29, 2023.
One advantage the PDP has is its spread across the entire 25 local government areas and three senatorial districts of the state. The party has been in the state since 1999 and has ruled since then till date. It has a large following and influence that covers all the communities in the state. It has impacted many lives, though some are disgruntled following perceived unsatisfactory services. Oborevwori, the PDP candidate, is being positioned by the PDP to take over from the governor on May 29, 2023. Many youths are in support of his candidacy. His presence on the social media and push by the youths is an attestation of his strength.
Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, the SDP candidate, is also on his heels to ensure he clinches the victory. He was the only single self-funded candidate who contested the election alongside Oborevwori and Agege who funded their campaigns from government houses. While Oborevwori ran under the heavy support of the state government, Omo-Agege prosecuted his campaigns with funds as Nigeria’s deputy senate president.
But Gbagi, an entrepreneur and industrialist, funded his campaigns single-handedly from 2019 to the last day of the campaigns. He was the first to enter the guber race. Many people thought he would back out along the way but he pressed on till the last day. He toured all the council areas, consulted widely, visited communities, did townhall meetings and visited who is who in Delta. His party, the SDP that was hitherto unknown, came to limelight as he joined the party. Gbagi is making every frantic effort to win the election with his laudable programmes he has outlined for Delta people.
Gbagi is having a stronghold in Ughelli south, his local government where all the presidents-general of the communities recently endorsed him for the historic contest. He also got series of endorsement from different groups across the state. The endorsement came from churches, youth bodies, the Obidient movement, women groups among others. He has good and beautiful devdlopment programmes for Delta people. He is bent on reviving moribund companies and creating jobs for all youths in Delta.
Ovie-Omo-Agege of the APC is also very unwilling to give in to any other party, believing that it’s time for him to become governor of the state. He may be coming with the force from the federal authorities to tackle the powers resident in the state. But what may work against him is his affinity with the ruling national party that has plunged the country into economic crisis.
He may also have to contend with the Christian community which has branded him in many ways, coupled with a little fracas with the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) in the state. However, Omo-Agege has a foothold in parts of Delta central, especially his Orogun axis where he executed some federal government projects. It must be stated that Omo-Agege is a strong force due to his attachment to the federal government. Many people have said he has a good mind.
Ken Pela of the Labour Party is banking on the Obidient movement to win the election. Prior to the heavy acceptance of Obi and the presidential election, Ken Pela was very slow in his move. He never campaigned as Gbagi, Omo-Agege and Oborevwori. But he is climbing on the wings of Obi, who has garnered much acceptance across the country. His drawback may be the statement of Obi which dwelt on voting people of capacity, competence and character and not just candidates of Labour Party.
As it is now, the battle for the soul of Delta is set. The contenders and the frontrunners are in the field. Their foot soldiers are working. Deltans are already out and within the next few hours the results will begin trickling in. Who win? Oborevwori, Gbagi, Omo-Agege, Ken Pela? Deltans are watching.
