By Olorogon Prof. Dr. Mrs. Rukevwe Akpedeye-Ugwumba
Former Special Adviser to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Health EXCO, Former Aspirant for Federal House of Representatives, Chieftain of the APC, and Professor of Family Medicine, Canada.
The recent purported endorsement of incumbent Senator Ede Dafinone and Rev. Francis Waive by the so-called U3 Forum—an erstwhile PDP pressure group—as the sole APC candidates for Senate and House of Representatives in 2027 is a blatant affront to the APC’s constitutional provisions, principles of fairness, and the very essence of equitable representation. It is a desperate, self-serving attempt to cling to power, regardless of the cost to Delta Central’s delicate political balance.
Even more astonishing is that both Dafinone and Waive actively solicited and embraced such endorsements from new APC members—individuals who recently crossed over from the PDP—while betraying the trust of core APC loyalists who labored tirelessly for their victories in 2023. Waive’s public endorsement and Dafinone’s clandestine support for Governor Sheriff Oborevwori—then a PDP candidate—during the 2023 elections were acts of sheer political treachery that must not, and will not, go unpunished. Their political reckoning is inevitable: they will be primaried and defeated.
Let us be clear: If Waive and Dafinone believe they can return to the National Assembly under any platform, least of all the APC, they are gravely mistaken. They have lost touch with the realities of Delta Central, Delta State, and Nigerian politics.
The Ugly Imbalance in Delta Central Representation
A closer look at the representation history in the Ughelli North/Ughelli South/Udu Federal Constituency exposes a glaring, unsustainable imbalance. By 2027:
- Ughelli South (Chief Emmanuel Agwariavwodo: 1999-2003, Dr. Chris Oghenechovwe: 2003-2007, Rev. Francis Waive: 2019-2027) would have cumulatively held the seat for 16 years.
- Ughelli North (Chief Solomon Ahwinawhi: 2007-2011, 2015-2019) has served 8 years.
- Udu (Late Chief Austin Ogbaburhon: 2011-2015) has only served 4 years.
Waive’s audacious bid for re-election in 2027 would further entrench this lopsidedness, denying Udu and Ughelli North their rightful turn in line with the principles of fairness, federal character, and equity enshrined in Article 20(vi) of the APC Constitution.
Similarly, Delta Central’s senatorial representation must reflect rotational balance across the three federal constituencies: Ethiope, Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie, and Ughelli North/Ughelli South/Udu. Fielding both Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and Senator Ede Dafinone—both from Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie—would be a strategic blunder for the APC. It would further alienate the rest of Delta Central and undermine the political equilibrium that has sustained the district.
In 2023, Olorogun O’Tega Emerhor graciously stepped down to allow Dafinone’s emergence. Dafinone should now emulate that selfless example, for the sake of fairness and unity. It is unconscionable—and indeed ungodly—for the Okpe Kingdom, one out of 27 Urhobo kingdoms, to monopolize both the governorship and senatorial seat. Are the rest of us slaves?
The Way Forward: True Representation, Not Power Grab
Dafinone and Waive’s reckless endorsement charade, sought from new APC members while disregarding the party’s core loyalists and constitutional values, speaks volumes about their desperation and lack of integrity. Such disregard for party rules, Urhobo customs, and the principles of justice raises serious concerns about their commitment to fairness and the welfare of the people they claim to represent.
It is time for aspirants from Udu and Ughelli North, as well as Ethiope and Ughelli North/Ughelli South/Udu Federal Constituencies, to step up. The APC must prioritize equity, fairness, and justice over selfish ambition. Only by doing so can we break the cycle of entrenched power and promote true, inclusive representation in Delta Central.
We are not slaves. We refuse to accept perpetual marginalization. The time for equity and fairness is now.
