By Ovie Okpare
Ahead of the 2023 governorship election in Delta State, the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has agreed to allow the Ndokwa Nation of Delta North Senatorial District to produce the running mate to its governorship candidate, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori.
Oborevwori, who is the current Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, an Urhobo from Osubi, Delta Central, picked the governorship ticket of the PDP after defeating Olorogun David Edevbie among others.
NIGER DELTA TODAY reliably learnt that the decision to allow Ndokwa Nation, one of the sub-tribes in Anioma (Delta North), followed the sharing of political offices among political leaders in the district.
Sources in the know of the development said the decision was reached after series of meetings with Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who is also the Vice Presidential candidate of the PDP for the 2023 general elections and PDP chieftains in Delta North.
Already, Prince Ned Nwoko from Aniocha axis of Delta North has emerged as the senatorial candidate of the PDP for Delta North.
The sources said leaders and chieftains of the party from Delta North are now waiting for Governor Okowa to select among those jostling to be Oborevwori’s deputy for the governorship election next year.
NIGER DELTA TODAY authoritatively gathered that no fewer than eight persons had earlier indicated interest to be running mate to Oborevwori. Sources said the list was later pruned down to four after consultations.
The List Of The Proposed Running Mates
Among those said to be jostling to be Oborevwori’s running mate is a former governorship aspirant, Chief Godswill Obielum. Obielum, a businessman, hails from Ndokwa East Local Government Area of the state.
Also in the race is the current state commissioner for finance, Mr. Fidelis Tilije. Tilije, an economist, joined PDP in February 2015 from the All Progressives Congress (APC) where he contested to be the flagbearer of the party in 2014 but lost to Olorogun O’tega Emerhor.
Tilije, who hails from Obiaruku in Ukwuani LGA, was three-time governorship running mate to Chief Great Ogboru until Governor Okowa wooed him to join to the PDP and appointed him as commissioner for water resources.
Another aspirant gunning to become deputy governorship candidate to Oborevwori is Chief Monday John Onyeme. Onyeme is the current Executive Chairman of the Delta State Board of Internal Revenue (DBIR). He hails from Ndokwa West LGA.
The fourth person lobbying to become the running mate to the PDP governorship candidate for the 2023 governorship election is Ochor Christopher Ochor. Ochor happens to be the current Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly while Oborewvori is the Speaker.
Ochor hails from Ukwuani LGA as Tilije who is believed to know the workings of government to complement Oborevwori who have no executive working experience.
Meanwhile, our correspondent gathered that Governor Okowa seems to be sympathetic to the DBIR chairman who has the financial capacity for the race.
NIGER DELTA TODAY learnt that Obielum might lose out of the contest on ground that the PDP House of Representatives candidate for Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency, Nnamdi Ezechi, hails from Ndokwa East LGA like him.
Ezechi, who had the support of Okowa during the PDP primaries, defeated the incumbent member representing Ndokwa/Ukwuani federal seat at the National Assembly, Ossai Nicholas Ossai to emerge candidate of the party for the next elections.
One of the political heavyweights in Delta North, who confirmed the political arrangement on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the race is between Onyeme and Tilije, saying that “Okowa wants somebody who can complement Oborevwori as deputy.”
The source said the nods are in favour of Onyeme. It added that aside Onyeme bringing his financial weight into the race, he is also popular outside his Ndokwa Nation.
It was further gathered that many PDP members are not comfortable with the choice of Tilije, the current commissioner for finance, for his alleged ‘arrogant posture’.
While Ochor is said to be unpopular even among his kinsmen particularly among Ukwuani youths. He also does not have control of the political structure in the area. He also does not have the financial power to complement Oborevwori in the race.
