Nine out of the twelve aspirants jostling for the governorship seat of Delta State come 2023 from the Delta Central Senatorial District of the state have appeared before the 13-man governorship screening committee set up by the district’s foremost political lobby group christened DC-23.
The exercise which took place at the Sapele Athletic Club in Sapele Local Government Area of the state had in attendance, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly; Olorogun David Edevbie, immediate past Chief of Staff in the state; Chief James Augoye, immediate past Commissioner for Works; Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, represented by Deacon Solomon Ala, and Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, former Managing Director of the NDDC.
Others were Chief Kenneth Okpara, former Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning in the state; Chief Ejaife Odebala, former member of the Delta State House of Assembly; Hon. Efe Ofobruku, former member of the Delta State House of Assembly, and Olorogun Fred Majemite, former Commissioner for Lands and Survey in the state.
Two of the governorship aspirants who could not attend the screening, Rt. Hon. Festus Ovie Agas and Chief Abel Esievo, it was gathered were excused by the committee for genuine reasons.
For Hon. Bright Edejegwhro, the committee said it did not receive any notification for his absence.
The 13-man governorship screening committee being chaired Prof. Nyerhovwo Tonukari has the mandate to prune the aspirants to five at the first instance and later to three before finally picking one for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) primary election in the state.