By Felix Ekwu
The flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Delta Central Senatorial District in the 2023 general elections, Senator Ighoyota Amori has said that harmonious relationship still exists between him and his only challenger in the party’s senatorial primary, Chief John Nani.
Recall that in the keenly contested PDP primary for Delta Central held on Monday, May 23, 2022, at the Sapele Township Stadium in Sapele headquarters of Sapele Local Government Area, Amori scored 142 votes to defeat Nani who polled 123 votes.
Amori hails from Mosogar a sister kingdom to Jesse which is the birthplace of Nani in Ethiope West Local Government Area.
Speaking on Friday, June 10, 2022, while addressing Delta Central PDP leaders and other stakeholders at an appreciation meeting he hosted at Mosogar, Senator Amori expressed optimism that he and Chief Nani will close ranks with the entire PDP family and people of Delta Central to ensure that the party overwhelmingly wins the senatorial seat in the 2023 general elections.
Amori said, “This victory is not complete yet until February next year when the main election will take place. We are now preparing for the main election.
“I want to sincerely from the very bottom of my heart thank and express my appreciation to Hon John Nani, who contested with me. And I mean it. Without a contest, I will not be a victor. If I was returned unopposed, probably I will not have had this opportunity to appreciate all of you.
“But, there was a contest. A contest that brought out the best in all of us. And we came all out and today I am victorious. If he did not contest with me I will not win that primary. But because he contested with me I now know that I still have enough work to do.
“For me, since the victory, we have been on speaking terms. We have been communicating. In fact, he would have been here today but for a reason he gave which is genuine. I have been longing to visit him in his house and he is waiting to receive me.
“I plead with all of you to continue to support me, support me until victory,” Amori solicited.
On his irrevocable commitment to the Urhobo course, Amori said, “First promise, I will not disappoint you. I remain Chief (Senator) Ighoyota Amori. Knowing who I am from 1998 till today, I remain an Urhobo irredentist. What runs in my blood is Urhoboness. How to propagate and maintain the hegemony of the Urhobo people.
“The DNA in me is Urhobo. And what I will do in the Senate is to fight for the Urhobo course.”
Among those who spoke at the gathering including, former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Monday Igbuya, prominent PDP leader in Udu Local Government Area, Chief Eddy Sohrue, Olorogun Akpodiogaga Emeyese, Professor Patrick Muogboghare and Mr Austin Ayemidejor harped on the need for reconciliation describing the party primaries as a family affair.
They also stressed the need for party members to mobilise the eligible voters in their units and wards to go and register in the ongoing Voter Registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to get their voter cards to enable them to vote for the candidates of their choice the 2023 general elections.
Specifically, Mr Monday Asiaka, who spoke on behalf of the youths at the event stressed the need for more effort to be concentrated on dominating and winning the units and wards for the PDP noting that anybody who claims to be a leader in the party but is unable to deliver his or her unit and ward in elections cannot be regarded a leader.
