Delta Central 2027: Makinde backs Omo-Agege's Senate return
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, Chief Williams Makinde, has supported calls for the return of former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, to the
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, Chief Williams Makinde, has supported calls for the return of former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, to the National Assembly in 2027, insisting that established political traditions in Urhobo land favour his candidacy and should be upheld.
Chief Makinde, former DESOPADEC Chairman, in a statement, argued that the long-standing power-sharing arrangement between the Eastern and Western Urhobo divisions makes it both “honourable and necessary” for the senatorial seat in Delta Central to revert to the Eastern bloc, thereby positioning Omo-Agege as the most suitable candidate.
According to him, contrary to claims in some quarters advocating rotational representation among the three federal constituencies in Delta Central, the true historical and political structure of the district is rooted in a dual division system — Eastern and Western Urhobo — which has consistently guided political balancing since the creation of Delta State.
“My submissions to federal constituencies rotation is not historically factual and is based on false evidence and presentation,” Makinde stated, emphasising that “the internal historical dynamics driving the politics of the Delta Central senatorial district derive from these two recognised divisions and not as was wrongly presented.”
He explained that Western Urhobo Division comprises Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie and Ethiope federal constituencies while Eastern Urhobo includes Ughelli North/Ughelli South/Udu, noting that this dichotomy—not constituency rotation—has shaped political equity in the region.
Makinde further pointed to historical precedents to reinforce his position, stating that whenever Delta Central produced a governor, the senatorial seat was deliberately zoned to the opposite division to maintain balance. He cited the administration of the late Governor Felix Ibru from Eastern Urhobo, during which Senator W.O. Eradajaye from Western Urhobo represented Delta Central, as well as the tenure of former Governor James Ibori from Western Urhobo, when senators from Eastern Urhobo occupied the Senate seat.
“The facts of history is that whenever the opportunity for Urhobo to produce the Governor of Delta State presents itself, the positions of Governor and Senator are normally shared between Eastern Urhobo Division and Western Urhobo Division,” he said.
He added that this same principle guided the APC’s internal arrangements ahead of the 2023 elections, noting that with Omo-Agege emerging as the party’s governorship candidate from Eastern Urhobo, key stakeholders from the same bloc like Olorogun O'tega Emerhor and Dr Christopher Ominimini stepped aside to allow Chief Ede Dafinone from Western Urhobo to emerge as the party’s senatorial candidate unopposed.
“This precedent guided APC's 2023 nominations, now, honour demands we return the favour. It's Western Urhobo's turn to show statesmanship and yield the senate seat to Eastern Urhobo in 2027,” Makinde declared.
The APC stalwart maintained that any attempt by Western Urhobo to contest the seat in 2027 would undermine the very principle from which it benefited, warning that such a move could disrupt the fragile political equilibrium that has sustained unity in Urhobo land.
“Having benefited from this power-sharing and balancing principle, Western Urhobo cannot now turn around to oppose it,” he said, adding that it would be politically untenable for any single kingdom, particularly Okpe, to produce both the governor and senator simultaneously."
Makinde also stressed the strategic advantage of electing a ranking lawmaker, asserting that Delta Central stands to gain more by sending an experienced and highly placed figure back to the Senate.
“There is no Urhobo person who has attained higher ranking in the senate than the former Deputy President of the senate,” he said, referring to Omo-Agege, whom he described as possessing the experience and influence needed to attract federal benefits to the district.
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Reinforcing his argument, he quoted an acknowledgment from critics of the former lawmaker, noting: “Mind you, no one is disputing that Senator Ovie Omo-Agege had a visible and impactful tenure.”
Makinde urged Urhobo leaders and stakeholders to rally behind the former Deputy Senate President, describing him as “young, full of energy and filled with bright ideas, rearing to be of further service to his nation.”
He also appealed to his kinsmen in Western Urhobo to preserve the unity of the Urhobo nation by respecting the established zoning arrangement.
“As a proud son of Western Urhobo, I’m calling on fellow Western Urhobos to uphold our cherished tradition of power-sharing with Eastern Urhobo… We should refrain from contesting the senate seat in 2027, as doing so could upset this delicate balance and jeopardize our shared interests,” he stated.
Makinde reiterated his call on Omo-Agege to “pick up the gauntlet” and return to the Senate, expressing confidence that his leadership would further advance the political and developmental aspirations of Delta Central.
