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By Swill Mavua

On Saturday, October 11, 2026, INEC released its final list for 2027 general elections and Delta changed. It is a big blow and deep disappointment in the camps of Senator Ede Dafinone and Ifeanyi Okowa.

Their most dreaded opponents — former Deputy President of the Senate, His Excellency, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, and former Speaker, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei — have made the final list. They have escaped INEC hammer. They are cleared as authentic and valid candidates of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, for Delta Central and Delta North Senatorial Districts.

It’s panic everywhere in APC.

The Failed Plot. After the Supreme Court judgment of September 24, 2026, which restored Sections 77(5)-(7) and 84(2) of Electoral Act 2026 — that parties must submit membership register to INEC at least 21 days before primaries and only members on that register can vote or be voted for — both Dafinone and Okowa camps went into wild jubilation

Their calculation was simple: Omo-Agege just left APC for NDC after an internal crisis in Delta APC where Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori hijacked the party machinery. So he should be disqualified for not meeting membership timeline. If Omo-Agege is out, Dafinone gets free ride to second term without facing serious challenger.

Same script in Delta North: Okowa thought Victor Ochei would be disqualified. Ochei also left APC for NDC. Okowa’s calculation: If Ochei is out, he returns to Senate without stress.

Both camps launched desperate media and backroom lobby. Aides to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori served as errand carrier to write press statements attacking Omo-Agege. Okowa used his Ekwueme boys to push that Ochei is not an NDC member.

All efforts failed woefully.

INEC’s National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Mohammed Haruna, had warned on Trust TV’s Daily Politics that candidates who failed membership requirements would be disqualified.

But as it were, Omo-Agege survived. Ochei survived. NDC survived.

Why? Because NDC is an organized party. Membership register submitted long ago. Omo-Agege and Ochei are foundation builders, not emergency decampees.

The panic in Dafinone camp is understandable. For almost three years in the Senate, Dafinone has been rated by stakeholders as one of the most silent and invisible senators from Delta State. No bill passed, no motion of Urhobo interest, no meaningful empowerment, no visible significant project in Delta Central. His only visible activity has been political press statements attacking Omo-Agege through media aides.

In contrast, Omo-Agege, during his two terms as Senator representing Delta Central and Deputy President of Senate, attracted:
– Federal Polytechnic, Orogun
– Defence Space School, Orogun
– Oil and Gas Industrial Park at Eku-Sanubi
– Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Kwale
– Legal framework for FUPRE
– Hundreds of federal jobs for our people
– Over 400 blocks of classrooms
– Over 10,000 solar streetlights, transformers, roads, water projects and ICT centres
– Empowered thousands across Urhoboland

There is hardly any community in Urhobo without Omo-Agege footprint — a record Dafinone cannot match. Knowing he cannot win on performance or popularity, Dafinone’s only hope was disqualification of Omo-Agege. Now that hope is gone.

Omo-Agege has never lost a senatorial election in Delta Central since 2015. He will not lose in 2027. Urhobo has decided: Performance over press statement.

Now let’s bring Victor Ochei into the discourse. In Delta North, same story. Former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who after eight years as governor left Delta State debt-ridden, who as PDP Vice Presidential candidate 2023 lost his own LGA, who is now facing EFCC heat over N1.3trn alleged diversion, wants to return to the Senate to hide.

Who is his opponent? Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei — former Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly. The man who as Speaker never locked journalists outside Assembly gate like Sheriff did. The man who respected the press, respected elders, gave constituency projects. A grassroots Anioma prince, not Abuja-import.

Okowa’s record in the Senate 2011-2015? Forgettable. Ochei’s record as Speaker? Visible — he built legislative independence, empowered Anioma youths, built schools, roads.

Okowa cannot match Ochei’s popularity in Delta North today. Anioma is tired of Okowa family dynasty. They want fresh face. They want Ochei. Okowa’s only hope was INEC hammer. That hammer missed Ochei and hit others.

Now it is Ochei vs Okowa — new thinking vs old cargo. Ochei will win.

INEC has spoken. Final list is final. APC counts its loss. Dafinone counts its loss. Okowa counts its loss.

2027 is not about party. It is about performance, respect, and who can Reset Delta. Urhobo is waiting. Anioma is waiting. 2027 is coming.

The Straight Talk

• Source: https://www.facebook.com/share/19buy1F45g/