HOW DR. IFEANYI OKOWA’S VICTORY AT DELTA PDP GOVERNORSHIP PRIMARY RESURRECTED ANIOMA GOVERNORSHIP DREAM

From an apparently looming collapse, the dream of Anioma, the Igbo-speaking part of Delta State, producing the next governor of the State resounded back to life on Monday, 8 December, 2014, following the magnificent victory of Senator, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa in the governorship primaries of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) held in Asaba, the State capital.

The quest for an Anioma governorship candidate was almost eclipsed after PDP chiefs in the wee hours of a day to the primaries dramatically switched support to Olorogun David Edevbie, an Urhobo, following vehement resistance to Sir Tony Obuh, who was preferred by incumbent governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan.

The pendulum, however, oscillated back to Delta North hours before the voting following a strong counter-lobby by Anioma leaders, who had earlier on October 8, 2014, visited President Goodluck Jonathan to present Senator Okowa, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu and Hon. Victor Ochei as their shortlisted governorship aspirantss.

Inquiries indicated that Okowa, an influential former Secretary to the Delta State Government, is very popular across Delta State and would have been readily accepted if chosen by his former boss, Governor Uduaghan.

At the end of the primary, Dr. Okowa’s broad-spectrum approval was reflected in the result, as he polled 406 votes to defeat over 15 other aspirants. The results saw Olorogun Edevbie coming a distant second with 299 votes, while Hon. Ochie got 185 votes, Hon. Elumelu 50 votes and Mr. Godwill Obielum 22 votes.

Prof. Sylvester Monye had 10 votes, ditto Ngozi Elejeme and Ovie Omo-Agege while Dr. Festus Okobor and Sir Tony Obuh each received 5 votes.

With the resounding victory of Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa’s, Anioma is now fully set and ready to produce the Delta State Governor for the first time after the Urhobo and Itsekiri.