Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, immediate past governor of Delta State, has declared his intention to contest the Delta North senatorial seat under the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections. This follows a visit by over 50 high-profile political leaders from the nine local government areas in Delta North, who gathered at his Asaba residence over the weekend to urge him to run. The delegation, led by Deputy Governor Sir Monday Onyeme, had earlier convened at the deputy governor's lodge and unanimously adopted a resolution backing Okowa's senatorial ambition.
The group included former and current National Assembly members and top government officials. A motion proposing Okowa's return to the Senate was moved by former House Minority Leader Ndudi Elumelu and seconded by House member Hon. Nnamdi Ezechi. Prominent figures such as Chief Chris Agbobu, Chief Emma Onyiuku, and Hon. Doris Uboh described Okowa as a seasoned administrator and consensus builder essential for improved federal representation.
Okowa, visibly emotional, accepted the call, stating, "I heed your call. I feel very loved and honoured, and I have no choice than to accept." He apologised to the Anioma people for his role in the emergence of the current senator, acknowledging past support he received from them during his 2011 Senate and 2015 gubernatorial victories. "We'll run it together and win together. I will not disappoint you," he said. Deputy Governor Onyeme affirmed the collective backing of the Anioma people, calling the bid "our collective project."
Ifeanyi Okowa's sudden embrace of a Senate run, after previously staying silent, reveals more than political ambition—it exposes the deep fractures in Delta State's power structure. The orchestrated visit by 50 political heavyweights, led by Deputy Governor Monday Onyeme, was not a spontaneous show of support but a calculated consolidation of the Anioma elite's influence, aimed at reclaiming a federal seat they believe has underperformed.
The motion moved by Ndudi Elumelu and seconded by Nnamdi Ezechi is not merely about representation; it signals a regional power play within the APC. By framing Okowa as a "consensus builder," the leaders are attempting to position him as a unifying figure capable of overriding internal rivalries—especially after Okowa admitted fault in backing the current senator, whose performance drew enough criticism to trigger this intervention.
For ordinary Anioma residents, this shift offers little immediate relief. Jobs, infrastructure, and youth inclusion remain unaddressed; instead, political energy is funneled into elite reshuffling. The promise of "running and winning together" rings hollow when past governance yielded mixed results.
This is not an isolated comeback bid but part of a recurring pattern: former governors leveraging residual influence to re-enter national politics, often with minimal policy distinction. Okowa's return, if successful, may reinforce dynastic politics over fresh leadership in Delta.
