Says Omo-Agege, opposition candidates have little to offer beyond name-dropping
Senior Political Adviser to the Delta State Governor, Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, has declared that the Urhobo nation will vote massively for the re-election of Senator Ede Dafinone in 2027, insisting that the emergence of both the governor and the senator from Okpe ethnic nationality should not divide the Urhobo people.
Aguariavwodo also criticised former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, and other opposition candidates, alleging that they had little to offer voters beyond dropping the names of their political leaders.
The former senator spoke at a strategic meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Okpare Ward, held at his residence in Okpare-Olomu, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.
Addressing party leaders and stakeholders, Aguariavwodo maintained that the Urhobo nation remained united and should not allow arguments over the ethnic origins of political officeholders to undermine its collective interests.
He faulted those questioning the simultaneous emergence of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and Senator Dafinone, both of Okpe extraction, describing the argument as misplaced.
Drawing from his experience in the Senate, Aguariavwodo cited the political history of former Delta State Governor, Chief James Ibori, and the late Senator Felix Ibru, arguing that the Urhobo nation had previously accommodated prominent political officeholders from the same area without allowing such circumstances to threaten its unity.
“Not long ago, Chief James Ibori was governor of the state. Ibori is from Oghara in Urhobo land. Not long ago, former Governor Felix Ibru was a senator, and he is from Agbarha-Otor,” he said.
According to him, the precedent demonstrated that the emergence of political leaders from the same ethnic subgroup should not be used to create divisions within the Urhobo nation.
He said the Urhobo people should instead focus on strengthening their political influence and supporting candidates they believe could advance their interests.
“At the same time, both Ibori and Felix were occupying positions, and we still said Urhobo OvuOvo. Now Urhobo have resolved that Okpe producing the governor and senator is a good thing. The Urhobo nation will vote massively for Dafinone,” Aguariavwodo declared.
The governor’s political adviser also expressed confidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Oborevwori, Senator Dafinone and other APC candidates would receive the support of voters across Delta State in the 2027 general elections.
He urged party members to remain united, strengthen their grassroots structures and mobilise support ahead of the polls.
Aguariavwodo’s targeted Omo-Agege and other opposition candidates, whom he accused of lacking compelling campaign messages beyond references to influential political figures.
He suggested that political candidates should be judged by their programmes, records and capacity to address the concerns of the electorate rather than their association with prominent individuals.
His comments came amid preparations by political parties to consolidate their structures and mobilise supporters ahead of the 2027 general elections.
A major highlight of the meeting was the unanimous adoption of APC candidates for elective positions, from the presidency to the Delta State House of Assembly.
The motion for the adoption was moved by the immediate past Chairman of Ughelli South Local Government Area, Hon. Dr Richard Kofi, and seconded by Engr. Quincy Tebite.
Party members subsequently endorsed the motion through a voice vote.
The meeting brought together APC leaders, stakeholders and grassroots mobilisers to deliberate on party unity, organisational strength and strategies for mobilising voters across Okpare Ward and Ughelli South Constituency II.
Among those present was the APC candidate for Ughelli South Constituency II in the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Ricardo Oghenero Oguma, JP, alongside the Executive Director, Projects, Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Dr Ebenezer Okorodudu.
Other prominent stakeholders included Chief Williams Alu, Prof. Egedegbe, Mr Ochuko Omorere, Mr Felix Emumejaye, Atiku Julius, Chief Mike Okor, Comrade Okiemute Otoka, Hon. Kesiena Itihwe, Chief Patrick Ogigbah and Comrade Kingsley Eboh.
Okpare Ward comprises Okpare-Olomu, Oguname-Olomu, Ophori-Olomu and Ophorigbala-Olomu communities.
The meeting ended with party leaders and stakeholders pledging to strengthen the APC’s grassroots structures, sustain internal unity and intensify mobilisation across the ward ahead of the 2027 general elections.
