Politics

At Last, Okowa, Ibori, Uduaghan Agree On Oborevwori

Published

3 years ago

December 10, 2022

If it was a game, the governor of Delta State and Vice-Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, former governors of the state: Chief James Ibori and Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan had noticeably outmaneuvered the opposition in what political opponents had believed would be the weak spot of PDP in the 2023 elections.

However, it was not a pastime, in actuality; the trio of Okowa, Ibori, and Uduaghan found themselves enmeshed in an internal political battle that almost triggered an implosion.

The main opposition party in the state, All Progressives Congress, APC, led by the Deputy Senate President, DSP, and governorship candidate for the 2023 governorship election, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, calculated that the PDP might not come out of the internal variance that hit the party before the poll, and thus affect its chances in the ballot.

Opposition applauded every stride the first runner-up in the PDP governorship primaries, Olorogun David Edevbie, and other dismayed party leaders made to dampen the choice of the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, as PDP’s governorship candidate.

It became palpably clear after the inauguration of the PDP Delta 2023 Governorship Campaign Council at Asaba that Okowa would be busy crisscrossing the country with the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and handling other national assignments for the party.

And his nonappearance was instantly recognizable in the Delta North senatorial district where Oborevwori, the state party chair, Chief Kingsley Esiso, and others kick-started the ward-to-ward campaign.

Okowa, Uduaghan meet behind closed doors

Many cannot believe that nobody orchestrated what transpired thereafter, but practically from nowhere, Dr. Uduaghan, did the “impossible” by declaring support for Oborevwori, the very reason for the heated disagreement between him, Ibori, and Okowa. Political watchers thought he was more embittered at Okowa than Ibori over the goings-on in the party,

Currently, Okowa is less burdened about the fate of Oborevwori in 2023 without his physical presence in his campaign, as Uduaghan has effectively taken up the role of an organizer and planner.

Vanguard learned that Okowa and Uduaghan, who has touched many hearts with his troubleshooting initiatives, met behind closed doors, last month, shortly after Uduaghan declared support for Oborevwori, and Okowa’s predecessor captivated him with his newfound love, suggestions, admonitions, and declarations on the way forward.

Ibori to declare stance soon—Uduaghan

While Okowa is attending to other duties, Uduaghan, who is the leader of PDP in his senatorial district, Delta South, had held several meetings to resolve some lingering issues. The former governor intervened in the dispute rocking the party in Burutu local government area. He invited the leaders and members to his Warri residence early this month to reconcile them ahead of the 2023 general elections.

He stormed the party’s ward-to-ward-campaign at Isoko, Okpolo/Enhwe, Igbide, Emede and Olomoro, and other parts of the state, appealing to the people to vote massively for Abubakar/Okowa, Oborevwori and all PDP candidates in the forthcoming general elections.

Uduaghan, who has endeared himself more to party members, chanted at the places he visited, “Vote for Atiku Abubakar and Ifeanyi Okowa for President and Vice-President; Sheriff Oborevwori for Governor; Michael Diden for Senate; Engr. Jonathan Ukodhiko for House of Representatives and Hon. Ferguson Onwo and Bino Obowomano for House of Assembly.”

Despite Uduaghan’s summation that the picking of Oborevwori was divine from the look of things, the opposition continued to insinuate he (Uduaghan) was alone in his new position, as Ibori was not with him.

Clearing the air on Ibori, last Saturday, Uduaghan, who visited Oborevwori at his Osubi residence, asserted, “Chief Ibori and I are not quarreling over this matter. He has accepted my latest decision to support you. He may publicly declare his stance soon and I know he loves the party more than all of us.”

“I was not under any form of compulsion to support you. I am at a stage in my life where I do things based on my conviction. The Supreme Court has ratified your candidacy and given you permission to the campaign.

“Therefore, we are all out to support you, you are the candidate subjected to court processes the most in Delta. I was the sitting governor who they took to court the most, so we share something in common and I declare today again to stand behind you and all PDP candidates in the forthcoming elections.”

… Complicated obstacles ahead

But the immediate past governor of the state quickly warned that there were landmines ahead, which the state PDP governorship for the 2023 governorship election should be cautious about.

”There is still a lot to be done before the elections. You need to pass through the heat you are passing through now in order to be governor. God has blessed you, but do not take Him for granted. Hold Him close because there are bumpier hurdles ahead.”

He admonished party members, especially those with their body in PDP and spirit in the opposition party, “If you say you are behind somebody, stay there. If you think you will remain in the PDP and be working for a candidate of another party, in no time, they will find you out. Those you betrayed your party for will not even trust you. Please, if you are here, stay here because politics is a very slippery venture.”

It could not be, however, confirm, yesterday, if the ex–governor, Okowa, and Oborevwori had separately or collectively, reached out to Senator James Manager, who contested the governorship primaries and lost to the latter. Until the latest bridge building by Uduaghan, Senator Manager was reportedly furious.

The deputy governor, Barrister Kingsley Otuaro, who also contested the governorship primaries but lost to Oborevwori, has moved on and taking part in the party’s campaign for his election, same as ex-lawmaker, Barrister Ejaife Odebala.
VANGUARD

Politics

We May Not Have A Country If APC Retains Power In 2027 – El-Rufa’i Warns

Published

8 hours ago

August 3, 2025

Editor

Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, has issued a warning about Nigeria’s future, declaring that the country’s survival is at risk if the All Progressives Congress (APC) wins the 2027 general elections.

Speaking on Saturday, August 2, in Sokoto at a grassroots mobilisation rally for the opposition coalition led by the African Democratic Congress (ADC), El-Rufai made clear his intention to campaign vigorously against the ruling party.

“I’m not in politics to get anything for myself. I’m in politics to serve,” he stated.

“When the government does not serve the people, it is my duty as a senior citizen to come out and condemn it and take steps to reverse the situation.

“That is why we come together as people opposed to the policies of this government to form the coalition, which has resulted in the adoption of ADC,” he explained.

El-Rufai, a former key member of the APC, said he is committed to rallying Nigerians across the country to unseat the party, describing it as “incompetent.”

“We are in Sokoto to begin the process of mobilising Nigerians against the APC government anywhere and the federal government in Abuja,” he said.

“I believe that if we allow this party and the government to continue for a second term in office, what remains of Nigeria’s social capital will be destroyed, and we may not have a country at all. This is a fight for our lives.”

El-Rufai was once a founding figure of the APC but left the party in March 2025 to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP) following the Senate’s refusal to confirm his ministerial nomination, reportedly due to security concerns.

However, his time in the SDP was short-lived. The party expelled him and imposed a 30-year ban, citing alleged forgery of membership documents, among other accusations.

Now a leading figure in the opposition ADC, El-Rufa’i joins other prominent politicians in working against the APC ahead of the 2023 polls.

Politics

Opposition Will Collapse In Edo Before 2027, Says Okpebholo

Published

9 hours ago

August 3, 2025

Editor

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, on Saturday, said there will be a total collapse of the opposition in the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He stated this during the flag-off of the campaign for the August 16th Senatorial by-election in Edo Central Senatorial District in Uromi.

He urged the candidates of the opposition parties to decamp to the ruling All Progressive Congress and join him in developing the State.

The governor was accompanied by the chairman of APC, Jarrett Tenebe, to receive decampees at the event. He expressed happiness that members of all other political parties are joining APC to ensure that development continues.

The decampees from PDP include Alhaji Esiwele Musa, Abraham Osazuwa, Sunny Ejie, and Robert Okoneme, amongst other PDP leaders across the 51 wards.

He said, “This is a test for 2027. I can tell you that 2027 is sure. Before 2027, there will be no opposition in Edo State anymore as all will join the APC because of the developmental achievements in the state.

“Hon. Joseph Ikpea will take over from me in the Senate. In this election, we will win five local governments out of five. We must win the entire 51 wards in the five local governments that make up the Senatorial District.

“I understand that it is only the candidates in the other parties that have not decamped to our party, the APC. I advise them not to waste their money but to join our party. If they give you money, take it and vote for the APC. The money is our money.

“We promised to give the President 2.5 million votes, and we are ready to deliver on our promises. We will not talk much because the election is a done deal. This is the first test for us as we do not have any opposition in the State anymore,” he said.

In his remarks, the Deputy Governor of the state, Dennis Idahosa, urged Esan people to support Okpebholo as he has brought development to the state due to his relationship with President Bola Tinubu.

He noted that the election is the first step to appreciate the president.

He said, “The President sees our Governor as his son, and the State enjoys the dividends of democracy. This is the first step to appreciate the governor and the president. We would not accept anything less than 90 per cent victory in the election.”

The APC party Chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, who presented the party’s flag to the party’s candidate in the Senatorial by-election, Hon. Joseph Ikpe,a encouraged him to ensure he continues from where the Governor stopped in the Senate.

He noted that the governor, as a Senator, brought development to the Senatorial District.

Presenting the party’s symbol, which is the broom, to decampees at the event, Jarrett Tenebe thanked the governor for duly informing the Chairman of Esan North East Local Government Area about the flag off of the day, saying that it was the right thing to do.

He urged the decampees to join and support the party, and the Governor to ensure the developmental strides continue in Edo State.

The Director General of the Edo Senatorial by-election and former Speaker Edo State House of Assembly, Victor Edoror, commended the people for coming out en masse. He urged them to make sure they keep the spirit of the door-to-door campaign for the candidate of party and the election to ensure victory.

The APC candidate in the Senatorial by-election, Joseph Ikpea, thanked the party for the trust and promised to continue with the developmental strides the Governor brought to the Senatorial District as a Senator.

The APC Edo Central Senatorial leader, Gen. Cecil Esekhaigbe (rtd); APC Edo South leader, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu; Deputy State Chairman of APC, Sylvester Aigboboh; and other leaders, urged the people to all come out en masse to vote for the APC candidate in the by-election.

Politics

Anambra guber: Soludo Raises Alarm, Alledges Plot By APC To Manipulate Election

Published

16 hours ago

August 3, 2025

Editor

Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo has raised the alarm over an alleged plot by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to manipulate the forthcoming November 8, 2025, governorship election in Anambra State.

He also warned candidates from Anambra South vying for the governorship seat against destabilizing the state’s political balance.

The governor made the allegation while speaking at a massive All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) rally held at Ekwulobia Urban Stadium on Saturday. He stated that Anambra is “too big for charlatans” and must not be distracted by what he described as impostors and unserious aspirants.

He vowed that “street urchins won’t govern a state that produced Zik, Nwafor Orizu, Ojukwu, Achebe,” as he rallied party faithful in Aguata Local Government Area of the state.

Soludo dismissed as deceitful the promises made by some candidates to serve only one term, insisting that such individuals require “psychiatric evaluation.”

“Anambra doesn’t need street urchins as governor. This is the state that produced the likes of Zik of Africa, Dr. Nwafor Orizu, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, and Prof. Chinua Achebe, among others. It is too big for charlatans,” he declared.

He further alleged that some candidates were merely using their campaigns to extort money from unsuspecting businessmen and the public. According to him, the achievements of his administration over the past four years justify his bid for a second term.

In a renewed call for peace, Soludo again offered amnesty to armed groups hiding in the forests, urging them to surrender and embrace rehabilitation or face the full weight of the law.

Visibly impressed by the turnout at the rally, the governor noted that he had not yet officially launched his campaign but was humbled by the support.

He revealed that the rally was entirely organized and funded by party members determined to see him re-elected.

The rally, which took place on August 2, 2025, endorsed Soludo for a second term in office and adopted Chief Emma Nwachukwu as APGA’s candidate for the Anambra South senatorial by-election scheduled for August 16, 2025.

It drew an impressive crowd of party loyalists, traditional rulers, community leaders, and political stakeholders.

Also in attendance were the APGA National Chairman, state and local government executives, and former Deputy Governor, Dame Virgy Etiaba.

In a show of solidarity, APGA stakeholders in Anambra South presented a N100 million donation to support the governor’s campaign. Traditional rulers in the senatorial district also honoured Soludo with the “Olu Atuegwu” chieftaincy title — a title that has already been conferred on him in Anambra North and Central, respectively.