Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has described the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) primary election for Ughelli South Constituency II as free and fair, saying the outcome had strengthened the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Omo-Agege, who spoke during the primary election held at Olomu, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, said the conduct of the exercise had created an opportunity for all aspirants and their supporters to unite behind the eventual winner.
The primary was won by BLDR Ishani Obakpororo, who polled 740 votes to emerge as the NDC candidate for the constituency.
Omo-Agege said, “This is my senatorial district and our support base. We are determined to ensure that this primary was free and fair.
“They are all my people. Everybody who participated in the primary today is my person. We did not want to support one person against another.
“We also realised that when you conduct a primary that is free and fair, properly record the results and declare the winner, those who lost will not protest or fight the outcome. It becomes easier to bring everybody together, knowing full well that they won or lost fairly.
“I think that is what we have achieved today. This has strengthened the party and strengthened our campaign. We are going to hit the ground running.”
He described the aspirants who participated in the exercise as popular, expressing confidence that their supporters would remain within the party ahead of the general election.
“We have just gotten a very, very popular candidate. In fact, they are all very popular. If you look at those who attended these primaries today and they all come back on election day, you know it is NDC all the way,” he said.
He maintained that the 2027 elections would be a contest between Nigerians and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), rather than a contest centred on individual political personalities.
“The 2027 election is going to be between the people of Nigeria and the APC. It is the people of Nigeria versus the APC, and we are determined to flush them out,” he declared.
On his part, BLDR Ishani Obakpororo, winner of the New Democratic Congress (NDC) primary election for Ughelli South Constituency II, has pledged to provide effective representation and prioritise grassroots development if elected in the 2027 general elections.
Obakpororo emerged victorious after defeating other six aspirants that died for the position in a direct primary where he secured 740 votes to defeat other aspirants.
Speaking shortly after the exercise, Obakbororo expressed appreciation to the party leadership, returning officer, security personnel and supporters for what he described as efforts to ensure a credible primary.
He attributed his victory to months of grassroots mobilisation across the constituency, saying he had consistently engaged leaders and party members in Olomu, Eghwu and Effurun-Otor axis.
He said, “The election was not about one community but the entire Ughelli South Constituency II.
“It is time for us to start defeating godfatherism. We cannot continue to serve their fathers, children and if God does not take care of us, we are going to end up serving their grandchildren. It is not supposed to be so,” he said.
The NDC candidate said his emergence marked the beginning of a broader political struggle, expressing confidence that the party would perform strongly in the general election.
“Many voters in Ughelli South, Ughelli North, Delta Central and the state at large are not with happy with the APC-led administration, particularly over allegations of corruption and poor governance.
“NDC would focus its campaign on presenting voters with a clear alternative and explaining what the party intended to offer if elected.
“If elected, I will prioritize effective representation and grassroots development as key areas of focus, and make the interests of my constituents the centre of his legislative agenda.
“I don’t have any godfather that I will be remitting anything to. The godfathers are the people you are seeing here because they are the ones who gave me this mandate.
He further appealed to supporters from both Olomu and Eghwu axis to remain united and support his candidacy through the general election.
On other aspirants, aspirants who contested the primary with him, Obakpororo, promised to engage them in discussions in building a united campaign ahead of the general election.
“After today, I will meet each and every one of them, we will discuss and work together as a family. I know today you may see it as a battle, but it is a family affair.” he said.
Earlier, State Secretary of NDC, Mr Phillip Odogwu said, “What we saw today is true democracy as every process was transparent, free and fair.
“It is a clear message that come, 2027, NDC will win from the presidency to states level because NDC has come to render service to Nigerians as from January 16, in 2027.
Declaring the results of the primary election, the State Returning Officer, Hon Okoriye Darlington said, the total accredited voters are, 1,615, vote cast, 1,559, while void votes were 56.
Aspirants that contested and their results is as follows, Hon Williams Odeavwarehor Aminugo 23 votes, Barr. Godson Oghenevwarho Whegbere, 606 votes, Chief Degema Ophiemu 190 votes, Chief Abel Edijala stepped down while Bldr. Ishani Twist. Obakpororo scored 740 votes respectively.
“And by the powers conferred on me as the State Returning Officer, I hereby declared Bldr Ishani Twist Obakpororo the winner haven pulled the highest number of votes.”
