2023: Okowa not opposed to zoning in Delta — Spokesman

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta is not averse to zoning of governorship of the state contrary to insinuations in some quarters.

Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Olisa Ifeajika disclosed this on Thursday. He said that it was also not true that the governor came to power through zoning consensus as being canvassed by some highly-placed Deltans.

He said that it was imperative to put the records straight in order not to mislead Deltans and other Nigerians.

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“It’s not true that the Governor of this state, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, is opposed to zoning, particularly for the governorship of this state.

“The times he spoke, it was loud and clear. He said that God will help Deltans to determine who will take over from him.

“But even at that, he told Deltans that at the right time, the leadership of the PDP will sit down to decide who the governor will be and after that, leave it to God to decide ultimately as he cannot play the role of God.

“That has been his position; so, it’s not true that the governor is opposed to power moving to Delta Central or any other senatorial district for that matter,” Ifeajika said.

He further said that the insinuations making the rounds that the governor came to power through zoning were wrong because people from other senatorial districts participated in the primaries that brought him to power.

He said that there was no time in the history of the state that any primary for governorship was allowed as an exclusive preserve of any senatorial district.

On the defection of Senator Peter Nwaoboshi to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its effect on PDP’s performance, the CPS dismissed the move, saying that it would not have any impact on PDP’s dominance in the state.

“The beauty of democracy is that people are allowed to move to any party they like. The movement of Senator Peter Nwaoboshi does not translate to the dominance of APC in Delta.

“Yes, Nwaoboshi has gone to APC but I can tell you that the impact of his defection cannot rattle PDP in this state. Delta is a PDP State and will remain so.

“That APC now has two senators does not translate to it being able to take Delta in elections; they cannot win one-twentieth of Delta electorate,” he added.