A political advocacy group in Delta State, Delta Central Mandate 2027, has challenged a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, to declare his political ambition and face an open contest with the incumbent Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Senator Ede Dafinone.
The group, in a statement on Saturday, and signed by its President, Chief Julius Utake, and Secretary, Mr. Kingsley Awin, dismissed calls allegedly linked to the Emerhor Political Forum (EPF) urging Senator Dafinone to step down ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to the statement, “popular aspirants do not beg others to step down for them,” insisting that any serious contender should demonstrate strength through open political engagement rather than indirect pressure.
“It is strange and politically untenable for someone who has not publicly declared interest in a race to be associated with calls for an incumbent to step aside. If Olorogun Emerhor believes he has the support, he should come into the open and test it,” the group stated.
Delta Central Mandate 2027 further described the alleged agitation by EPF as “misplaced,” arguing that political relevance is earned through grassroots acceptance and not through what it termed “sentimental appeals.”
The group also raised concerns over past political events, calling on Emerhor to address allegations surrounding the 2023 governorship election in Evwreni Ward, where irregularities reportedly affected voting outcomes in parts of the area.
“Questions have remained unanswered regarding developments in Evwreni during the last election cycle. There is also a need for clarity on the prolonged crisis in the community, which has led to loss of lives and displacement of residents since 2020,” the statement added.
While noting that political leadership begins at the community level, the group urged Emerhor to focus on addressing local concerns before seeking higher office.
It further questioned whether the APC stalwart participated fully in the 2023 electoral process, particularly regarding the purchase of nomination and expression of interest forms for any elective position.
The statement also referenced Emerhor’s previous electoral outings, including the 2013 senatorial by-election and the 2015 governorship race, describing the outcomes as underwhelming and attributing them to what it called “internal political contradictions.”
“History is there for all to see. Electoral contests require consistency, credibility, and loyalty to party ideals,” the group said.
Reaffirming support for Senator Dafinone, Delta Central Mandate 2027 maintained that the incumbent lawmaker remains focused on delivering representation and should not be distracted by what it described as “uncoordinated political noise.”
Efforts to reach Olorogun O’tega Emerhor or representatives of the Emerhor Political Forum for response were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
