As the heat for the 2023 governorship election build up in Delta State, Governor Ifeanyi OKowa on Wednesday said there was no agreement on how the governorship seat should be rotated among the three senatorial districts in the state.
Senator Okowa said he was not aware of any meeting where it was agreed among leaders from the different senatorial district on the pattern the governorship seat should rotate among the districts.
The governor spoke on Wednesday during the Quarterly Media Briefing with journalists across the state in Asaba, the state capital.
Okowa’s remark is coming amidst rumour that he had reached an agreement with Ijaw leaders to ensure that his successor comes from the Ijaw ethnic nationality in Delta South Senatorial District as a payback for their support to his administration.
Among the Ijaw jostling to succeed Governor Okowa is his deputy, Deacon Kingsley Otuaro and the current senator representing Delta South, Senator James Manager.
However, there is also clamour that the governorship seat should return to Delta Central where the rotation began in 1990 with former Governor James Ibori.
No fewer than five Urhobo in Delta Central including Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, Olorogun Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, Olorogun David Edevbie and Chief James Augoye had indicated interest to contest the governorship seat under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023.
But Okowa answering questions from journalists said, “”There was no formal meeting where gentleman agreement was reached to decide where the Governorship will be zoned to. Only God can decide who becomes Governor.”
Details later…