Agboje Chuks
Delta State based journalist and political analyst, Mr. Darlington Okonma, has urged Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, to mend fences within the Delta State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in other to get his reelection bid, asserting that the escalating rate of defections within the Party is a critical indicator of impending electoral defeat.
Darlington Okonma who is also the coordinator of Delta Decides and the Chairman of Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ika Chapter, gave this assertion during an interactive session with his colleagues at his Agbor residence.
His analysis paints a grim picture for the PDP, disclosing that the party’s grip on Delta State is rapidly loosening.
He argues that all the three senatorial districts were now exhibiting a marked shift towards the All Progressives Congress (APC), effectively relegating the PDP to opposition status.
“The sheer volume of PDP members abandoning the party signals a profound internal crisis,” Okonma stated. “Frankly, given the current trajectory, I fail to see a viable path to victory for Governor Oborevwori.”
He further detailed the erosion of PDP support across the state:
Speaking further, Mr. Darlington Okonma stated that the allegations of administrative neglect have fueled a sense of betrayal among voters in the traditionally supportive region, predicting a decisive loss for the PDP just as he cited significant political realignment.
He noted that the influence of key political figures, notably Tompolo, Ayiri, and their close ties to the presidency, are seen as insurmountable obstacles for the Governor.
The Delta born journalist revealed that the alignment of the Ika region with the Delta Integrity Group (DUG), a socio political group strongly affiliated to the All Progressives Congress, APC is specifically highlighted as a major indicator of Sheriff’s electoral failure.
Okonma also emphasized the Governor’s unprecedented low approval ratings, attributing them to perceived leadership shortcomings, just as he urged Oborevwori to address the public directly, particularly through press conferences, to dispel the notion that he is merely a political proxy for his predecessor, Senator Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa.
“Governor Oborevwori must urgently consolidate his base and repair the fractured relationships within the PDP,” Okonma concluded. “Failure to do so will almost certainly result in electoral defeat.”
