The incumbent Senator representing Delta north senatorial district at the National Assembly, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa on Monday night braved all the odds to emerge governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the 2015 general elections in the state.
Senator Okowa won the election with 406 votes against his closest rival, David Edevbie’s 299 votes, while Victor Ochei came distant third with 185 votes. Edebvie was Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s candidate after he dumped Tony Obuh, a Permanent Secretary in the Government House, initially paraded as the anointed candidate. Obuh was dumped following stories that President Jonathan would prefer an Urhobo governorship candidate to enable him get the Urhobo backing in the February election.
Enter David Edevbie, a former finance commissioner in the state and a James Ibori-Emmanuel Uduaghan loyalist. But the aspirants from Delta North were not ready to suck in the tale, and opted for a test of strength on the field.
Senator Okowa finally emerged winner of the primary election that lasted well into Monday night and was beamed live on Africa Independent Television, AIT. With Senator Okowa’s victory, it is the first time that a candidate from the Igbo speaking region of the state, popularly called Anioma, is winning the governorship ticket of the state.
