The political landscape in Delta State witnessed another major boost as former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, received overwhelming support during his engagement with All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders and stakeholders in Ogwashi-Uku and Issele-Uku, spanning Aniocha South and North local government areas on Thursday.

At Ogwashi-Uku, the APC chairman of Aniocha South LGA, Pastor Nobert Akachukwu Sochukwudimma, praised Omo-Agege’s leadership, emphasiSing his proven capacity to win elections.

“When he told me he was coming, not just to meet his followers but also to hear from those with grievances, I knew he was a true leader. He does not shy away from responsibility,” Pastor Sochukwudimma stated.

Expressing the party’s determination for victory, he added; “Aniocha South APC is enthusiastic and hungry for electoral success. For years, we’ve been in opposition, but with your proven strategy, we believe victory is within reach.”

He passionately appealed to Senator Omo-Agege to replicate the winning tactics used in Ughelli North and Delta Central that brought electoral success in previous elections.

Also speaking, former Delta State Commissioner and APC House of Representatives candidate for Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency, Dr. Tony Nwaka, described Omo-Agege as a “grassroots general”, emphasising his exceptional ability to mobilise people.

“Politics is about mobilizing the people, and there is nothing more heartwarming and encouraging than having a proven general leading you into battle—someone with a track record of competence in grassroots mobilization. Senator Omo-Agege demonstrated this in the last election,” he stated.

Dr. Nwaka noted that those who did not contest elections as candidates might not fully grasp the significance of Omo-Agege’s strategic approach, adding: “He who wears the shoes knows where they pinch.”

Highlighting his personal electoral success, Dr. Nwaka revealed that he was the only candidate in Delta North who secured a 5/5 win in his polling unit in the last general elections. He urged the people to rally behind Senator Omo-Agege, describing him as a leader committed to progressive governance.

The event also saw prominent APC stalwarts, including Dr. Antonia Ashiedu and Dr. Ifeanyi Odikpo, commending Omo-Agege for his leadership and dedication.

Odikpo advised Senator Omo-Agege, “to avoid transactional politicians that use vote to transact businesses in every election. And to forget big names, instead focus on the common people that have the votes.”

Dr. Ashiedu acknowledged past electoral challenges but reaffirmed her confidence in Omo-Agege’s political acumen: “Yes, he made some mistakes in 2023 by listening to certain friends, but make no mistake, Omo-Agege is a political field marshal who knows how to win. If he runs in 2027, Deltans should rally behind him.”

While alluding the rousing welcome for Omo-Agege as the people’s love for APC, she further described him as a leader committed to inclusivity and development.

At Issele-Uku, Senator Omo-Agege was met with an electrifying reception. Traditional dancers, led by The Owelle of Onicha-Olona, Hon. Chief Jerry Chukwuma Nkeweshe, set the stage for a vibrant welcome, reflecting the people’s excitement.

Women from Onicha-Olona displayed cultural dances, expressing their appreciation for Omo-Agege’s visit and his continued commitment to Delta State’s progress.

With the momentum from the engagements, it was evident that Senator Ovie Omo-Agege remains a formidable force in Delta State politics. As the APC strengthens its base in Aniocha South and North, political analysts believed the strategic grassroots engagements could shape the party’s success in future elections.

The Deputy President of the 9th Senate and former Delta State APC governorship candidate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has accused the PDP-led State Government of marginalising the people of Ndokwa East local government area of the State.

 

Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting with APC elders, leaders, and members in Aboh, Ndokwa East LGA, Omo-Agege lamented that despite the area’s significant contributions to the state’s revenue, there was little to show in terms of tangible infrastructure development.

 

Addressing the underdevelopment in Ndokwa East, he said, “Look at Abor, where we are today—no telephone network, yearly flooding, and yet none of these issues have caught the attention of the Delta State Government. Is there anyone here who is not feeling the pains of underdevelopment?

 

“My challenge to the state government is simple: What have they done to address these challenges? Or is Ndokwa East not part of Delta State? With all your contributions to the state’s revenue, what do you have to show except neglect?”

 

He assured that when APC takes over government in 2027, Ndokwa East will get special attention.

 

According to him, “Ndokwa East is a special local government area; this is so because my deputy comes from here. In the last election, because of the fear of my deputy, PDP paid special attention to Ndokwa East. Overnight, they appointed three Commissioners, many Executive Assistants, and Senior Special Assistants. But despite all that, we came very close to winning the local government, losing by just about a thousand votes, according to INEC’s declared results.”

 

He further alleged that PDP manipulated the 2023 election results, stating, “One thing that is clear from the votes we got is that our over 9,000 votes are organic and legitimate votes. But that can’t be said of their own. Like someone said here, where they got 300, they would add one in front to make it 1,300, and that is how they won, unlike our votes, which are genuine.”

 

Omo-Agege also claimed that the PDP attempted to buy over APC ward and local government executives before the elections. “Recall that two weeks to the election, as one of our leaders here mentioned, they went around offering our Ward and Local Government executives N5 million each to defect to PDP. That is why, overnight, some of our executives decamped. However, those who took the money have been abandoned, and the N5 million they collected has long been spent.”

 

He urged APC members to remain united, emphasising that politics is a game of number and that every member, regardless of when they joined, is important. “Politics is about numbers. One person alone cannot deliver a local government. Our strength lies in our ability to expand and bring more people into the party. We saw the difference in the results from 2019 and 2023 because we grew our support base.”

 

Omo-Agege assured the party faithful that their efforts in the last election were not in vain, urging them not to be discouraged. “Among all the nine LGAs in Delta North, you performed exceptionally well. You came very close to winning the local government for us, but for forces beyond your control. With a little push, I believe you can take us across the finish line. So, don’t be discouraged.”

 

He also called for unity among APC leaders, stating, “In every political family, just like in our personal families, people have disagreements, but they always settle. Whatever issues exist among our leaders, they will be resolved for the good of our party. We are brothers and sisters; we will not fight to the death. So, go about mobilizing new members to join our party. Let the leaders handle their disagreements and find common ground.”

Former Senate Deputy President and Delta State APC governorship candidate in the 2023 general election, Ovie Omo-Agege, has refuted the rumours making the rounds that he was planning to dump the APC.

Ovie Omo-Agege, in a statement on Tuesday by his media adviser, Sunny Areh, described the report as baseless, calling it a product of speculative journalism without any truth.

“In the weird publication, it was alleged that Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, Deputy President of the Senate in the 9th Session, is scheming to abandon the All Progressives Congress, APC, to team up with Mallam Nasir el-Rufai to float a phantom new political party. The story is not only shocking but idiotic.

“Having led the APC to its best ever performance in the 2023 general elections in Delta State where the party won two of the three senatorial seats and Senator Ovie Omo-Agege was narrowly cheated from coasting to victory in the Governorship election, associating his name with the political group the former Kaduna State governor is said to be working on is a clear case of fable without any basis whatsoever.

“The story is the product of a hatchet job orchestrated by political forces whose only path to relevance is to create a wedge between Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.

According to him, the rumour is a game the perpetrators are already deploying to blackmail him and sabotage the APC.

He said he remains committed to the task of completing the job of rescuing the state from the serial failed administrations in 2027.

“Let it be known that as the leader of APC in Delta State and having taken it through a record showing in the 2023 general elections, I remain irrevocably committed, steadfast, and primed to the task of completing the job of rescuing the state from the serial failed administrations in 2027,” he added.