Delta South: Joel-Onowakpo, Diden rekindle battle for senatorial seat

By Ochuko Akuopha 

WHEN  Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas and Michael Diden contested the Delta South Senatorial election in 2023, it was on the platforms of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, respectively.

Read Also: Fire in Delta Central as Dafinone, Omo-Agege, Emerhor battle for senatorial seat   

Joel-Onowakpo was the candidate of the APC and Diden, popularity known as Ejele was the flag bearer of the PDP.

Joel-Onowakpo won the keen contest that was also decided in his favour at the judiciary.

A multi-ethnic  senatorial district, Delta South comprises of the Ijaw, Itsekiri and Isoko ethnic nationalities with eight local government areas including Warri South, Warri North, Warri South-West, Isoko North, Isoko South, Burutu, Bomadi and Patani.

As the build up to the 2027 general elections gathers momentum, the stage is again set for them to slug it out for the the position, but this time, not as candidates of opposing political parties, but as members of the APC; not in a general election, but the primaries of the party where they will be battling for the party’s ticket in the senatorial district.

Joining them in the race for the APC ticket, is Chief Malik Itiako Ikpokpo, a 2023 House of Representatives aspirant in the Isoko federal constituency and two-term Chairman of Isoko South Local  Government area. 

He had also served two tenures as Chairman of the State chapter of the Association of Local Governments in Nigeria, ALGON and Deputy National Chairman of the association.

Like Ikpokpo, Joel-Onowakpo who currently chairs the Senate Committee on Local Content hails from Isoko South Local Government Area of the State. He had previously served as Executive Chairman of Delta State Board of Internal Revenue from 2009 to 2015 and as State Coordinator for Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS offices in Rivers, Edo, and Delta from 2016 to 2018.

Diden who hails from Warri North Local Governments Area had served as Commissioner representing Itsekiri ethnic nationality in the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, and chairman of the board of the commission.

He had also served as Chairman of Warri North Local Government Area and 

member of the Delta State House of Assembly.

So far, Senator Stella Omu  (1999 to 2003) and Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas (2023 till date) both from Isoko ethnic nationality and Senator James Manager (2003 to 2023) from Ijaw ethnic nationality, have represented the Senatorial district at the Red Chambers of the National Assembly.

A political observer argued that in terms of fairness and equity it was the turn of Itsekiri to produce the next Senator for Delta South. “Itsekiri has not had the opportunity to produce a senator. Ijaw  has produced a Senator and deputy governor. The Isokos too have produced the Senator, so equity demands that Itsekiri should be given a shot at the senate”, he said.

But another analyst thinks otherwise, saying that “It is true that Itsekiri has not been to the Senate, but as a matter of fact, Isoko is the most marginalised ethnic group in the Senatorial district. Ijaw has produced a senator who served from 2003 to 2023 and they also had the deputy governorship slot from 2015 to 2023.

“When we talk of the governorship, Itsekiri has taken their turn for two terms. The lsokos have only tasted the senate for one term from1999 to 2003 and now Senator Joel-Onowakpo who is on his first term. It is a matter of equity and fairness to allow Isoko to go for another term.”

With the APC opting for direct primaries or selection of candidates by consensus arrangement, it remains to be seen which of the aspirants would emerge as the party’s flag bearer in the senatorial district.

However, the camps of the  aspirants are upbeat that their principals would clinch the APC’s senatorial ticket irrespective of the mode of primaries adopted by the party.

A close associate of Senator Joel-Onowakpo said the Senator has performed exceptionally well at the National Assembly and has endeared himself to the people of the senatorial district.

“Despite being a first timer which should be a form of disadvantage, Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas has broken the record of first timers performing below expectation through various bills, projects and  empowerment he has initiated.

“Senator Joel-Onowakpo will pick the party’s ticket based on the performance that he has put in place. He has performed beyond expectations and the people of Delta South want him to continue at the senate so that he can do more and make sure that Delta South comes to the level where it can measure shoulder to shoulder with other senatorial districts in the country.

“I can tell you that Senator Joel-Onowakpo  has the backing of the party. The party has seen that the Senator is doing what ordinarily, he should do. So, in the event of direct primary, the registered members of the party are going to vote overwhelmingly for Senator Joel-Onowakpo.

“From the feelers that we are having, people from other parts of the senatorial district are pushing that Isoko should continue in the senate and that Senator Joel-Onowakpo should be allowed because Delta South needs a returning officer who understands the terrain. In the event of consensus, he will emerge as the consensus candidate of the party”, he said.

A source close to the camp of Micheal Diden said none of those vying for the Delta South senatorial election was a match to him

He said: “Ejele (Diden) did very well in the 2023 election, so he has a bright chance of picking the party’s ticket and wining the election.

“Many people are behind him; people have been asking him to contest. He is somebody that is loved and admired and they are clamouring for him. No one is a match to Ejele at present in the senatorial district.” 

On his chances of picking the party’s ticket, he said: “Ejele is not a stranger in the system; he is a part and parcel of the system. Those that are in the APC were all in the PDP, so they know themselves, and l am confident that Ejele has the brightest chance. The election will be to his advantage” he said.

Similarly, a staunch supporter of Ikpokpo expressed optimism that his principal would pick the party’s ticket and win the general election.

“Ikpokpo is generally, a likeable person; he connects easily, so there is this general acceptance that has greeted his entry into the race. He has come with a clear manifesto, the CLUE (Communication, Legislation, Unity and Empowerment) Agenda that you can relate with, so people think his coming into the race will provide the missing link in the senatorial representation of the district.

“He is in the good books of majority of the leaders of the senatorial district and the State. So either way (direct primary or consensus) he is ready because he is the clear choice of the people. His greatest strength lies on the people; he is the most preferred. He has given a clear-cut agenda of what to expect and the people are very excited.

“As former ALGON Chairman in Delta State, Ikpokpo operated beyond local boundaries, engaging governance at a broader and more strategic level”.

There are indications that in the days ahead, other aspirants may join the senatorial race but battle for the party’s Delta North senatorial ticket is one that certainly will be intriguing.

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