…As leaders reject incumbent Senator

The immediate past Governor of Delta State, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa, has declared his intention to contest for the Delta North Senatorial seat in 2027 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The former helmsman said he yielded to popular demand by high-profile political leaders in the zone that besieged his residence in Asaba, to ask him to join the race.

Following his declaration, the former Governor will have the incumbent Senator, Ned Nwoko, representing the district to contend with.

The supporters, numbering 50 leaders from the nine Local Government Areas, making Delta North, including former and serving National Assembly members, top government officials and politicians, led by the Deputy Governor of the state, Sir Monday Onyeme and the former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon Ndudi Elumelu, sponsored the move.

They had earlier met at the Deputy Governor’s Lodge before proceeding to Okowa’s residence to pass the resolution they reached to him.

A motion was swiftly moved by Elumelu, and was seconded by a serving member of the Green Chamber, Hon. Nnamdi Ezechi, urging Okowa to accept the call to represent Delta North in the Senate.

They described the former governor as a seasoned administrator and consensus builder whose experience remains vital for effective representation at the federal level.

Visibly overwhelmed, Okowa, who considered the calibre of persons on the mission, agreed to run.

He said, “I heed your call. I feel very loved and honoured, and I have no choice but to accept. As I accept your request for me to run for the Senate seat, we will run it together and win together. I will not disappoint you.”

He apologised to the generality of Anioma people for being instrumental to the emergence of Senator Ned Nwoko in 2023.