The season of one-man rule is over- Delta North Youths declare, reject Okowa

…Urge former governor to clear name at EFCC before returning to seek public trust

Youths of Delta North Senatorial District has declared that the “Season of One-man rule is over”, as they kicked against Ifeanyi Okowa’s senatorial ambition ahead 2027 general elections.

They said, Enough is Enough to the former governor who had held onto power from the local government to State, and to National Assembly, back to the state and now want APC return ticket to the Senate, from the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

They made the declaration at a press briefing held in Agbor, by the Delta North Youths Coalition. and addressed by the conveners and leaders, including Ofochi Benjamin Atagana, Kingsley Kainebi and others.

Their declaration followed Okowa’s acceptance to calls by some of Anioma people that he should accept go back to the Senate a third time to represent the Delta North Senatorial District in the National Assembly come 2027.

The youths said they would resist such moves. “Since the creation of Delta State in 1991, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has occupied public office with barely a pause. His unbroken political trajectory is as follows: Secretary to the Ika Local Government Area, Chairman, Ika North-East Local Government Area, Commissioner, Delta State (1999–2006) seven years, Secretary to the Delta State Government (2007–2011) four years, Senator, Delta North Senatorial District (2011–2015) four years, Governor, Delta State (2015–2023) eight years, PDP Vice Presidential Candidate 2023 General Election

“This is more than three decades of virtually uninterrupted political dominance by a single individual over a people who deserve diversity, inclusion, and opportunity in governance. Delta North is not a one-man kingdom. Its vast human capital is untapped because one man has chosen to park himself permanently at the intersection of every political opportunity the district offers.

The youths frowned that the former governor has entrenched a Family dynasty at the expense of other people.

“While Dr. Okowa himself pursues the Delta North senatorial seat, his daughter, Hon. Marilyn Okowa-Daramola, is simultaneously seeking to return to the Delta State House of Assembly. This is not a coincidence; it is a calculated attempt to institutionalize a family dynasty in a democratic state.

“In healthy democracies, political power circulates among citizens of diverse backgrounds, giving every community a sense of ownership over governance. What the Okowa family is attempting is the concentration of power and representation within a single household, locking out thousands of qualified, patriotic, and competent sons and daughters of Delta North who aspire to serve their people.

Continuing, the youths noted that “Nepotism is not a family value; it is a governance failure. When a father controls executive power for eight years and then positions himself for legislative power while his daughter occupies an elective office, the democratic process has been corrupted at its roots. The Coalition of Delta North Youths will not be silent accomplices to this travesty.”

The youths also pointed out that Okowa is currently facing criminal charges filed by the Economic and Financial Commission (EFCC) for the alleged diversion of the sum of N1.3 Trillion of Delta State public funds during his tenure as Governor of Delta State (2015–2023). “These are not allegations made by political opponents or faceless critics. They are charges formally presented before a court of competent jurisdiction by Nigeria’s foremost anti-corruption agency.

“It is a damning indictment not just of Dr. Okowa as an individual, but of a culture of impunity that has thrived for decades under his watch. Delta State was blessed with enormous oil revenues and federal allocations during his eight-year administration. Yet, roads remain unmotorable, hospitals lack basic equipment, schools are in disrepair, youth unemployment is rampant, and infrastructure across the senatorial district is in a state of catastrophic neglect.

“We ask: What manner of democracy allows a man accused of stealing from the public to return and seek the privilege of representing that same public? What message does this send to our children about the consequences of corruption? We say, unequivocally, that criminal prosecution demands accountability, not elevation. Dr. Okowa must face justice, not seek refuge in legislative immunity.

“We call on the EFCC to ensure this case is prosecuted vigorously and without interference, and we call on the APC leadership at all levels not to become unwitting shields for a man the law is actively pursuing.

APC and fight against integrity:

The coalition stated, “We wish to address this point with the utmost seriousness, because it goes beyond Delta North and speaks to the soul of our national anti-corruption project.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has staked his administration’s legacy partly on a credible fight against corruption. The prosecution of public officers, irrespective of party affiliation, has been highlighted as a cornerstone of this administration. It would be deeply contradictory and politically self-defeating for the APC, a party that rode to power on promises of accountability and integrity, to hand its senatorial ticket to a man facing criminal charges for allegedly looting public funds to the tune of N1.3 trillion.

“Such a decision will not only undermine public confidence in the sincerity of the Tinubu administration’s anti-corruption stance, but it will also embolden other corrupt actors across the country who will rightly conclude that APC membership provides cover from prosecution.

“We, the Coalition of Delta North Youths, implore the President, the National Chairman of the APC, and all relevant stakeholders to resist every attempt to grant Dr. Okowa the party’s ticket. We equally call on Dr. Okowa himself to demonstrate that he has faith in the judiciary and in his own innocence by stepping aside from politics to face and clear his name at the EFCC before returning to seek public trust.

“Beyond the criminal charges, Dr. Okowa’s record in office speaks for itself. During his tenure as Senator representing Delta North (2011–2015), his legislative footprint was conspicuously faint. The senatorial district recorded little by way of landmark bills, impactful oversight functions, or constituency projects that meaningfully transformed lives. His constituents were largely left to fend for themselves.

“As Governor of Delta State from 2015 to 2023, Dr. Okowa had two full terms and some of the most generous federal allocations in the state’s history. Yet, the verdict of most Delta citizens is one of massive underperformance. Clannish appointments meant that certain ethnic groups and communities were systematically shut out of governance. Prebendal politics, the use of public office to reward political allies and cronies at the expense of merit and equity, defined his administration.

We, the youths of Delta North, cannot in good conscience support the return to power of a man whose time in power was characterized by such demonstrable failures. We deserve better. We demand better.”

They concluded by saying that Delta North has an abundance of capable, credible, visionary, and integrity-driven men and women who are ready to serve and called on all stakeholders to invest in those alternatives and to build the kind of leadership that will truly transform their communities, give jobs to our youth, develop our infrastructure, attract investment to our land, and restore dignity to our people.

Okowa’s Ally ready for the fight:

Meanwhile, a political support group headed by Hilary Ibegbulem who had called on the former governor to contest the 2027 elections described Okowa as an experienced leader and vowed fight for his re-election as a senator.

“Okowa is a seasoned administrator with a rich record of public service whose leadership trajectory from local government administration to the highest levels of governance positions him as a valuable asset in the Senate, said Ibegbulem.

“Members of the support group are fully prepared to mobilise resources and grassroots backing to ensure Okowa’s successful return to the Senate”

Now, the battle line is drawn between Delta North people who want Okowa for Anioma Senatorial District 2027 and those who don’t want him to come back. Whether he will win or not is not the story for today.