Delta 2019: Urhobo rally round RAP gov candidate ahead Saturday poll

Ahead of the March 9 governorship and House Urhobo of Delta Central Senatorial district are currently rooting for governorship and House of Assembly elections, a third force, led by Mr Omo Olotu, the governorship candidate of the Reform and Advancement Party (RAP), has emerged.

Tribune Online gathered on Saturday that Urhobo political gladiators from the district have, therefore, endorsed Mr Olotu to ensure the governorship seat does not elude the ethnic nationality this time around.

The move is upbeat in view of the suit before the Warri High Court which has exposed the fact that in the event of Chief Great Ogboru winning the March 9 election, the second runner-up might quash his victory because of his purported ineligibility to run for the office.

It will be recalled that, on July 4, an order was made by the High Court in Kwale, Delta State, in Suit No. HCK/56/2018, restraining the defender in the suit from recognising and swearing in any other state executive of the All Progressives Congress (APC), apart from that chaired by Chief Cyril Abeye Ogodo and his members into office, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on Notice for an interlocutory injunction pending before this court.

An interim order was equally made by this same court “restraining the 4th Respondent (INEC) whether by itself, its agents, servants or however called from recognising and /or dealing with any other state executives of the APC in the state apart from that chaired by Chief Cyril Abeye Ogodo and its members, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on Notice already filed in this case before this court”.

Tribune Online gathered that since the date the court order was given, there has been no variation, no setting aside nor annulment of the Order of the High Court, Kwale, yet the 4th Respondent (INEC) in that case has continued to recognise the present Prophet Joseph Erue-led exco of the APC which conducted the gubernatorial primaries which led to the emergence of Chief Ogboru as the party’s candidate for the state in the 2019 elections.

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As a result, on Friday, chairmen of the People’s Progressives Congress (PPA) and other major political parties from Delta Central, endorsed RAP governorship candidate, Mr Olotu, concluding that he has the qualities and capacity to win Delta Central votes and gain the needed acceptance of the Delta South and North voters in March 9 polls.

The political parties maintained that Delta State needs a bridge-builder, an interlocutor and a detribalized personality to take the state to the next level.

In a related development, leaders of the Urhobo Doyen’s of Thought have also thrown their weight behind Olotu, saying Urhobo cannot gamble its chances away when the signs on the wall spell are ominous.

The leaders said that Urhobo could not afford to wait for another four years while a viable contender like Olotu was in the race, urging the Urhobo and Deltans to throw their weight behind Olotu to make Delta great, again.

Another socio-political group, the Emete Urhobo, based in Orerokpe in Okpe Local Government Area of the state has also endorsed Mr Olotu for governor.

The group, which paid a solidarity visit to the Olotu Campaign Secretariat/ Office in Warri, disclosed that Urhobo need not search for another messiah, as Olotu is the answer they have been waiting for.

Members of the group noted that having watched his delivery in Quest T.V debate and having listened to his programmes as well as accessing his viability in the political race, Olotu is good for the job, urging Urhobo women to support him to avoid a waste of votes.

As of the time of filing this report, it wasn’t certain if the Urhobo traditional rulers have agreed to prevail on Olotu to withdraw his suit against Chief Ogboru.