Exclusive: Why Okowa may win Delta guber polls-Investigation

As the political intrigues and lobby intensify in Delta State among the PDP, APC and Labour Party gubernatorial candidates, the odds over who occupies Delta State Government House come May 2015 at the exit of Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan favours the incumbent member representing Delta North Senatorial district at the Senate and PDP candidate, Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, Fresh Angle International investigations reveal.

Though the gubernatorial election is still few weeks away, opinion polls favour Senator Ifeanyi Okowa of the PDP despite the sympathy Labour Party governorship candidate, Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru enjoys across the State after narrowly losing out to Chief James Ibori once and Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan twice according to INEC results. The least in the equation for now according to opinion polls is APC governorship candidate, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor.

Political pundits in Delta State are of the view that apart from PDP being the ruling and dominant party in the State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa’s political experience right from his days at the defunct SDP as well as his network of political allies and associates across the 25 Local Government Areas that make up the State, which saw him emerged as PDP gubernatorial candidate against teething opposition makes him hot favourite to take over the mantle of leadership from Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan.

While the APC governorship candidate, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor may rely almost solely on his party’s backing and contacts in Delta Central Senatorial District, no matter who he picks as Deputy, Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru of the Labour Party, who is also from the Urhobo dominated district will share the votes with his APC counterpart in the event of non of them stepping down for the other and possibly win Isoko North and South Local Government Areas due to his decision to settle for an Isoko Deputy.

Apart from possibly winning Isoko votes, Chief Ogboru might make a little in-road into Itsekiri dominated Warri South, Warri South-West and Warri North Local Government Areas for the first time since running for the State plum job following the resolve of his party to pick an Itsekiri legal practitioner and fresh face, one Barr. Itse Wilkie, as Delta South Senatorial candidate to battle Senator James Manager of the PDP, who appears unpopular, particularly amongst Itsekiris.

The PDP governorship candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa looks all but set to win massively in the eight Anioma Local Government Areas (i.e Delta North Senatorial district) and come out victorious in Ethiope West, Sapele, Uvwie and Ughelli North Local Government Areas in the Urhobo dominated Delta Central Senatorial district having eight Local Governments due to the strong backing of PDP Chieftains like Chief Ighoyota Amori, Hon. Evelyn Oboro, Chief Monday Igbuya, Hon. Ovie Agas, Hon. Micheal Diden and a host of others despite strong Urhobo sentiment against them.

Senator Ifeanyi Okowa’s soaring romance with Senator James Manager and seemingly emerging political force, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo A.K.A. Tompolo and other prominent PDP Ijaw leaders may sway votes in Burutu, Bomadi, Patani and parts of Warri South-West Local Government to his favour. This is also not unconnected with mounting speculations that Senator Okowa will pick his deputy from Ijaw Nation.

Senator Okowa is also likely to win Warri South, Warri-South-West and Warri North Local Government Areas which are PDP strong holds because of Itsekiri PDP leaders like Hon. Daniel Reyenieju, Hon. David Tonwe, Mr. Mofe Pirah, Dr. Joseph Otumara, who is Secretary of Delta PDP Gubernatorial Campaign Committee, Hon. Omimi Esquire, Prince David Omaghomi, Hon. Michael Diden and Chief Ayirimi Emami, who despite his reservation is a forceful PDP leader in the Warri Local Government, as a result of his control of factions of Itsekiri National Youth Council and National Association of Itsekiri Graduates as well as his political contacts which goes beyond Itsekiri areas.

It is believed that  Chief Ayirimi Emami as a strong party man will also fully throw his weight behind Senator Okowa in-line with the PDP decision that all erstwhile gubernatorial aspirants and their support groups should back Okowa’s ambition.

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