The political landscape of Delta North is currently witnessing a significant debate as the 2027 general elections draw closer. In a move that has sparked widespread discussion, the media team of Senator Ned Nwoko has called on the former Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, to reconsider his senatorial ambitions. The team suggests that it is time for the former governor to embrace the role of a statesman and support the incumbent, drawing a parallel to the leadership style of President Bola Tinubu, who focused on mentoring and elevating others after his time in the Senate and the governor’s mansion.
According to a detailed statement released Senator Ned Nwoko’s Media team, the history of the relationship between these two political heavyweights is one marked by deep personal sacrifices that many may have forgotten. The statement clarifies that Ned Nwoko’s political journey was well underway long before their paths fully crossed, noting that while Nwoko was already serving in the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2003, Okowa was still navigating his way through the state’s administrative ranks.
The narrative surrounding Okowa’s rise to the governorship in 2015 is particularly poignant. Zoyols Blog highlights a moment of immense personal tragedy for Senator Nwoko that occurred during the PDP primaries. On the very morning he was set to coordinate delegates for Okowa, Nwoko received the devastating news from London that his son had passed away in his sleep. Despite the heartbreak, he chose to stay and fulfill his political commitment to the Anioma people’s governorship agenda, only traveling to join his grieving family after the victory was secured. This sacrifice, the team argues, was a foundational pillar of the political era that followed.
Financial and structural support also played a massive role in sustaining the party’s grip on the state. The media team pointed out that during the 2019 “Operation Return Okowa” (ORO) movement, Senator Nwoko invested over a billion naira of his personal funds to ensure a second term for the administration. From finishing the NBA building in Asaba to mobilizing grassroots support across nine local government areas, the investment was as much about loyalty as it was about state development.
The statement further notes that when Okowa sought the vice-presidential slot on the national stage, it was Nwoko who used his influence in Abuja to open doors, introducing him to key power brokers and defending his ambition against internal party opposition. However, the media team expressed disappointment that despite this history, there have been consistent efforts to undermine Nwoko’s current seat in the Senate. They cited instances where state-level cooperation for major development projects—such as the Okpai power plant step-down and the Ogwashi-Uku dam—was allegedly stalled by the state government.
Zoyols News notes that the call for Okowa to step down is rooted in the belief that true leadership involves knowing when to leave the stage. The media team emphasized that politics should be about the collective progress of the people rather than individual control. They argued that by supporting Nwoko, Okowa would be preserving his legacy as a leader who prioritizes the stability and growth of Delta North over personal political survival. As the saying goes, the beauty of a performance is often found in an actor’s ability to take a bow while the applause is still loud.
