Five aspirants in the governorship race of Delta State come 2023 on Monday survived the screening hurdles of Prof. Nyerhovwo Tonukari’s led screening committee of Delta Central 2023 (DC-23).
Recall that Tonukari’s 13-man committee was inaugurated on Monday, October 25, 2021, with the mandate to downsize the number of governorship aspirants under the banner of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Delta Central Senatorial of the state, who are rallying under the foremost political lobby group christened DC-23.
On three occasions, 13 of the governorship aspirants namely, Chief David Edevbie, Chief James Augoye, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, Chief Kenneth Gbagi, Chief Fred Majemite, Hon. Ejaife Odebala, Hon. Efe Ofobruku, Chief Kenneth Okpara, Chief Bright Edejeghwro, Chief Ovie Agas, Chief Abel Esievo and Chief Sunday Solomon Oruarefe, appeared before the screening committee.
Submitting its first report on Monday, Edevbie, Augoye, Oborevwori, Gbagi and Aguariavwodo made the list which is subject to further downsizing by the end of January 2022.
The committee in a report signed by the 13 members and read by the Secretary, Prof. Sunny Awhefeada, said the outcome of its first report was a product series of meetings and screening exercises within the given time adding that it carried out the assignment in the best interest of Delta Central Senatorial District and the state in general.
In his response, National Chairman of DC-23, Senator Ighoyota Amori, commended the committee painstakingly carrying out its assignment.
He urged them to further prune the number to three as encapsulated in the committee terms of reference.
“Therefore, the committee is hereby further directed to reduce the number to three and has up to January ending 2022 to submit its final report.
“The committee has had several meetings, discussions, interactions, and evaluated the curriculum vitae, mission statement and profile of the aspirants that appeared before them, can now resort to public perception and rating in their acceptability across the state, accessibility, integrity, capability, credibility and pan Delta disposition.
“I hereby plead with those who didn’t make the list of five and later three to accept the committee’s report and recommendation in good faith, as only one person, can be Governor at a time. The twelve aspirants were all heroes and winners”, he added.
