…As Dafinone Inaugurates Campaign Council
By Onome Oghenetega
The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, is not paternally from Okpe Kingdom, a former Chief of Staff to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and Ugo of Okpe Kingdom, Chief Paulinus Akpeki, has said.
Akpeki, who is the Delta Central Senatorial District’s chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), stated that Oborevwori is only maternally from Okpe Kingdom just like the governorship candidate of the APC and Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.
He also challenged Oborevwori and candidates of the PDP to a debate with Omo-Agege and APC candidates ahead of the 2023 elections in Delta State.
Akpeki spoke on Wednesday during the inauguration of the APC Delta Central Senatorial Campaign Council of Chief Ede Dafinone in Ughelli, stressing that Omo-Agege will succeed Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as next governor of Delta.
The former Delta Housing Commissioner also stated that Dafinone will succeed Senator Omo-Agege as the next senator representing Delta Central at the National Assembly.
Akpeki, who holds one of the most prestigious traditional titles in Okpe Kingdom, explained that Omo-Agege was maternally from Aghalokpe in Okpe Kingdom, while his father was paternally from Orogun in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state.
He added that Okpe’s sons and daughters are solidly behind Senator Omo-Agege and Dafinone and would massively vote for them in the next year’s elections.
“Senator Omo-Agege came from Orogun and Okpe Kingdom. Omo-Agege’s father is from Orogun and his mother is from Aghalokpe in Okpe Kingdom. Sherrif Oborevwori is also maternally from Okpe Kingdom. Both of them are women’s children. You can quote me anywhere”, Akpeki stated.
Speaking on the chances of Dafinone in next year’s election, Akpeki posited, “Today, Ovie Omo-Agege sits down and he is comfortable that someone is going to take over from him. Omo-Agege has done well and we are bringing somebody that can step into his shoes. Ede Dafinone will do well stepping into Omo-Agege’s shoes in the Senate.
“Ede is coming to the election with two local governments behind him. Okpe and Sapele, which formed the Okpe kingdom, are solidly behind our son Ede Dafinone, and Sapele and Okpe LGAs are solidly behind Ovie Omo-Agege.
“On behalf of APC Delta Central, I challenge Sheriff, I challenge PDP leaders to bring out their candidates to a public debate. I on behalf of Ovie Omo-Agege put forward a public debate between Omo-Agege and Sheriff Oborewvori.
“Let Delta people choose. The position of the governor is for Delta Central in the next dispensation. Let the two candidates contesting for Senate tender their documents, certificates and profiles to Deltans. Let Deltans choose also.”
In his speech, APC Delta Central senatorial candidate, Okakuro Dafinone charged the people of Delta Central to massively vote for APC candidates in the forthcoming elections, adding that the party will convincingly.
Dafinone, while commending Senator Omo-Agege for elevating the Delta Central seat at the National Assembly through his performance, called on Deltans to support and vote for the APC governorship candidate in the forthcoming elections.
He charged the campaign council members to return their units and wards and mobilise the people of Delta Central and Delta State to vote for all APC candidates across board.
“2023 is the election that our votes will count and won through unit by unit. Our event here today is directed at localising our politics. I started politics in 1998 in PDP and in 2006 in contested for the position of the Senate but lost in the primaries.
“With the APC, I have found my home. The party is united and we have formed a formidable party. A Party that is positioned to take over Delta State come 2023. We owe this to our leaders and I want to thank DSP Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and other leaders of the party who have driven the process to where we are today.
“We are much stronger today in the party than ever. Our chances of winning the state from Presidency to governor, senatorial to House of Representatives and State Assembly in Delta State are incredibly bright.
“Today, I’m a politician and I am proud to be. This election will attract more people to APC because they see us as the winning team. We’re reaching out to people that are not currently our members. It’s a way of attracting them to join our fold.
“We will continue that process with the faith that many more are coming to join us as leaders and builders of Delta State come 2023. Anyone who wants to be in our campaign team will be accommodated”, he added.
Also speaking at the inauguration of the campaign council, the member representing Ughelli North, Ughelli South and Udu Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Rev. Francis Ejiroghene Waive charged council members to intensify mobilisation for the party’s victory.
Waive posited that APC will win Delta State in the 2023 elections convincingly, adding that Dafinone has the capacity to build on the achievements of Senator Omo-Agege at the National Assembly.
The campaign council has as Director General, Chief Adelabu Bodjor, Hon. Kevwe Agbroko as the Deputy Director, while Chief Advisers are Hon. Stella Erhuvwoghene Okotete, Chief Mrs. Veronica Ogbuagu, Dr. Rufus Ebegba, Sir Richard Odibo, Dr. Otive Igbuzor, Hon. Francis Waive Hon. Halims Agoda and a host of others.
The campaign also has Chief TJ. Onomigbo Okpoko SAN, Chief Godwin Ogbetuo, and Chief Frank Kokori as patrons while Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and the State Chairman of the party, Engr Omeni Sobotie are Chairman and Co-chairman of the APC State Campaign Council (Delta Central) and Chief Festus Keyamo SAN, Chief Paulinus Akpeki, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor will serve as Vice Chairmen.
