The vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election, Ifeanyi Okowa, has declared his intention to contest the Delta North senatorial seat ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Okowa made the declaration at his residence in Asaba after a delegation of political leaders from the nine local government areas of the senatorial district urged him to seek the All Progressives Congress ticket for the seat.
Over 50 prominent political figures, including current and former members of the National Assembly, government officials and political stakeholders, visited the former governor over the weekend to persuade him to contest.
The delegation was led by the Delta State Deputy Governor, Monday Onyeme.
Before visiting Okowa’s residence, the group had earlier met at the deputy governor’s lodge, where they resolved to encourage the former governor to run for the Senate seat.
During the meeting, concerns were raised over the quality of representation currently being provided to Delta North in the Senate.
A motion urging Okowa to contest the seat was moved by former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Ndudi Elumelu, and seconded by a serving member of the House, Nnamdi Ezechi. The motion was unanimously adopted.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, several leaders, including former minister Chris Agbobu, Chief Emma Onyiuku and former lawmaker Doris Uboh, urged Okowa to accept the call to represent the district in the Senate.
They described him as a seasoned administrator and consensus builder whose experience would strengthen representation for the Anioma people at the federal level.
Responding to the appeal, Okowa said he was overwhelmed by the show of support and accepted the request to run for the Senate.
“I heed your call. I feel very loved and honoured, and I have no choice than to accept,” he said.
He also apologised to the Anioma people for what he described as the “mistake” of supporting the emergence of the current senator representing the district.
Okowa said, “As I accept your request for me to run for the Senate seat, we’ll run it together and win together. I will not disappoint you.
“The statement all of you have just made here is not for today; it’s a statement for the future of our people, and I thank you for being thoughtful and concerned for our people.”
In his remarks, Onyeme assured the former governor that political leaders and the people of Anioma would support his bid.
“It’s our collective project,” the deputy governor said, pledging that stakeholders in the district would work together to ensure victory in the election.
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