Exclusive: The Men, Factors against Okowa's re-election

It's no longer news that Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa flagged off his re-election campaign Friday January 4 at Oghara in Ethiope West Local Government Area and thereafter proceeded to the historic town of Koko, headquarters of Warri North Local Government Area, Saturday January 5.

But while the governor's re-election bid may have commenced in earnest, Fresh Angle International wish to serve her teeming readers couple of under-currents capable of stopping Okowa from getting a second term despite the select- media frenzy.

Even those who play to the gallery politically by publicly dismissing Delta State All Progressives Congress, APC gubernatorial candidate, Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru as a non- factor to Dr. Okowa's re-election bid, privately acknowledgethe huge followership of Chief Ogboru in Delta Central and parts of Ndokwa land, thanks to his maternal ties as well as the choice of his running mate.

Ogboru who's the main albatross of Okowa, arguably enjoys cult-followership in Delta Central like President Buhari in Northern Nigeria.                        

Apart from Great Ogboru, the rising influence and followership of the Senator representing Delta Central at the National Assembly, Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege, should give Peoples Democratic Party in Delta State serious cause for worry.

Omo-Agege over the last one year has shot himself into National reckoning, due to his radical and intelligent approach, both within the floor of the Senate and in defense of APC.

As former Secretary to Delta State Government and known offshoot of the much talked about Ibori political family, it will be foolhardy for Okowa and PDP to ignore his"inside" experience and ruggedity ahead of the fast approaching polls.                                  

Immediate past two-time governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan is a key factor in Delta State politics, irrespective of reservation by many.

Apart from Great Ogboru, Uduaghan is perhaps another Deltan who has contested governorship election in Delta State more since this political dispensation.

Recalled he was ousted by the court, but he returned after recontesting and G 3, a political pressure group he formed some years ago should not be brushed aside easily, even though key members of the group (Ijaw, Itsekiri and Isoko) are still card-carrying members of PDP.

His political network in Isoko, Ijaw and the three Warri Local Government Areas ( Warri South, Warri North and Warri South-West) is likely to work against Dr. Okowa this time and ultimately favour Ogboru, who never
"won" in the three Warris in the past.

Founding member of Peoples Democratic Party in Delta State and unrepentant follower of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, now APC Chieftain, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh is a rock in Ika South Local Government Area. Dr. Ojougboh who quickly conceded in the APC governorship primary and openly pledged to work towards the victory of the party and by extension that of Great Ogboru, is another mountain the PDP gubernatorial candidate, Dr. Okowa will have to surmount if he truly wishes to win second term.

Dr.  Ojougboh wields much influence in Agbor, while Okowa hails from neighboring Ika North -East Local Government Area.                                      
Impeached Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly and member representing Sapele Constituency in Delta State House of Assembly, Chief Monday Igbuyah, who has now pitched his tent with the opposition APC, is a former ally and now political foe of Dr. Okowa.

Those who think he's not a threat in Sapele and other parts of Okpe, should remember that Igbuyah's arch rival in the ancient town of Sapele, Hon. Michael Diden, also of Delta State House of Assembly, only recently lost the PDP Delta South Senatorial primary and has since not made public comments amid growing speculations that he felt betrayed by Governor Okowa during the PDP primary.

Michael Diden A.K.A. Ejele was not conspicuous in PDP campaign rallies at Oghara and Koko, fueling speculations that he might be politically pregnant.

Though the known God-father of Delta State PDP, Chief James Ibori openly canvassed support at Oghara for Okowa's re-election, the APC membership of two of his closest allies, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and Chief Ayirimi Emami, can only create more confusion in the minds of Governor Okowa, other PDP members and indeed political watchers in Delta State as the polls inch closer.                                       
Former Chairman of Delta State Board of Internal Revenue, DBIR, Joel Onowakpor- Thomas, who's APC House of Representatives Candidate for Isoko Federal Constituency, could be another spoiler for Okowa in Isoko axis.

Controversially sacked former Chairman of Uvwie Local Government Area, Henry Baro Minabonware, now a strong APC member, is another factor PDP should give serious thought to.                                   

Deputy Director 2 of APC National Campaign Council, Chief Ayirimi Emami may not be friend of some people, due to his occasionally self-assertive and unconventional political approach, but the current PDP leadership in Delta State will attests to how he single -handedly staged a credible fight against the ruling PDP during the April 2017 Warri South Constituency 1 Bye-Election, where he majorly bankrolled the campaign of Prince Stanley Emiko of the APC against Princess (Mrs.) Shola Ogbemi Daibo, who contested on the platform of Accord Party, but backed by Okowa and the entire PDP machinery in Warri South, Warri North and Warri South -West Local Government Areas.

In-fact, those who recently had the opportunity to engage Dr. Okowa privately, keep saying the governor remains uneasy with Chief Emami being in the opposition, because of the deciding votes of the "three Warris", particularly now that former Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is the National Chairman of APC.                                         
While Dr. Okowa should be wary of the men above in his quest at returning to Delta State Government House as Governor, he should equally beam his Eagle Eyes on aspirants that lost out in the PDP primaries.

Feelers indicate that large chunk of the aspirants are likely to play the Ostrich during the forthcoming elections, no thanks to dryness of funds' inflow as the campaigns thicken.

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