DESPITE the fact that only the candidate of the All
Progressives Congress, APC, participated in the heavily advertised and much
anticipated 2015 Delta State Gubernatorial Election
Debate held at the Grand Hotel, Asaba, Delta State on Tuesday, March 24, the
organizers have described the event as a ‘huge success’.
Asaba the state capital of
Delta was in a frenzy last Tuesday as supporters of both the Labour party and
the APC parties held a road rally to sensitize the people to watch their
candidates speak to Deltans later in the evening via the debate platform. They
shared handbills, danced and sang to loud music.
It was about 5pm that Senator
Ifeanyi Okowa, the campaign organistion of governorship candidate of the People
Democratic Party, PDP, called the organizers for an emergency meeting. Mr. Jude
Banye and Igho Ugbegu were both informed that Okowa won’t be taking part in the
process citing some law suit instigated by the PDP against the APC and Labour
candidates Olorogun Otega Emerhor and Great Ogboru respectively. But not many
people had this information, so the large crowd that turned up at the hall
tucked at the riverside of Grand Hotel, came to see the three top contenders
tell Deltans the plans they have for the people and state.
As at 7pm, Olorogun Emerhor
was already seated on the expansive stage looking very relaxed and exuding
confidence. Great Ogboru’s many supporters were chanting campaign songs around
a black tinted glass SUV parked by the entrance of the hall. It became clear
that their principal was inside the vehicle. Ogboru it was gathered was angry
and insisting on leaving since according to sources close to the organizers, he
arrived on schedule and the event was yet to start. He was later placated and
he came into the hall amid loud singing and dancing. Then the drama began.
Ogboru took the microphone and broke the news that he was pulling out of the
debate because Okowa did not show up. His supporters cheered as he walked back
to the SUV and drove off. Jude Banye who also moderated the event then asked
people to fill the space reserved for Ogboru’s supporters in the audience.
Banye then introduced the panel made up of popular television personality Mrs.
Adesuwa Onyenokwe, Prof. Tony Emina and Donald Ovberejo, another seasoned
broadcaster.
When Emerhor insisted he
would continue with the exercise, the crowd cheered. He said he was not
surprised that Okowa and Ogboru “chickened out” as he had expected them to.
“When a man does not have any plan for his people, he is always afraid to come
out in the open and speak. I actually came here to face Okowa because I know
that Ogboru is working for the PDP since Labour is also voting for the PDP
president. There is no difference between the PDP and Labour. When I first saw
my picture in the middle of the two gentlemen, I told the organizers about my
concern, thank God they changed me to the far left which is good because it’s
me against the two of them,” Emerhor said as an opener and the crowd roared
again.
Emerhor then took six
questions from the panel members in a period of an hour. It was a robust
session as Deltans got an insight into his plans if elected. The APC candidate
no doubt got a huge political millage from the live televised debate.
Ugbegu on her part described
the event as a success. “We took considerable amount of time, effort and
resources to put all of this together. We are happy that achieved some degree
of success despite the absence of two candidates.”
Banye said: “The move was a response to the need for
candidates to articulate their plans and abilities to Delta indigenes and get
the people more involved in the electoral process. The Gubernatorial Election
Debate is intended to inform, sensitize and involve voters in the 2015 Delta
State political process.”
Doely Intermediaries is an independent, non partisan
management consultancy headed by seasoned business analysts and workshop
facilitators working with Inspire Delta Initiative to deliver this project.
Doely Intermediaries organised the 2011 Election Symposium tagged: One Man
One Vote How Possible?
The debate was broadcast live on the Nigeria Television
Authority, NTA Asaba-Delta State
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