Ahead of the 2027 general elections, Senator Ned Nwoko’s media team has called on former Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, to step down from the Delta North senatorial race and support the incumbent, Senator Ned Nwoko.
In a statement released on Tuesday titled “The Case of Ned Nwoko and Ifeanyi Okowa; Let History Speak Before Ambition Rewrites It,” the team argued that statesmanship requires making space for others to serve. The statement urged Okowa to emulate President Bola Tinubu’s approach of building other leaders after serving as senator and governor.
The media team traced the political relationship between both men back to 1999–2003, when Nwoko served in the House of Representatives while Okowa was working toward a commissioner role. It stated that Nwoko played a key role in mobilizing support for Okowa during the 2015 PDP governorship primaries, including coordinating Aniocha North delegates on the day of the election.
The statement also detailed Nwoko’s involvement in Okowa’s 2019 re-election campaign, citing funding for support groups, grassroots mobilization, and donations to professional bodies such as the NUJ, NUT, and NBA. It added that Nwoko again supported Okowa’s vice-presidential ambition in 2023 by facilitating connections within national political circles.
According to the statement, several development projects associated with Nwoko, including the Okpai power plant step-down, Ogwashi-Uku dam, coastal road, and Delta State airline initiative, faced delays or lack of state support during Okowa’s tenure as governor. The team also cited the refusal of a local council chairman to allocate space for a mini stadium project linked to Nwoko, attributing it to political allegiance.
The statement claimed that despite these challenges, Nwoko did not defect from the PDP during the 2019 primaries when he was offered an alternative ticket, choosing instead to support the party’s collective interest in Delta North.
The media team said Okowa’s reported intention to contest the Delta North senatorial seat again creates tension and undermines the incumbent’s mandate. It argued that stepping aside would allow for continuity and give Nwoko space to consolidate his work in the Senate.
The statement concluded by calling on Okowa to prioritize party unity and institutional stability over personal ambition, noting that enduring leadership is measured by the ability to elevate others.
Okowa has not publicly responded to the statement as of press time.
Post a Comment