LAGOS SEPTEMBER 24TH (URHOBOTODAY)-Barring any last minute hitches, Chief Emmanuel Aguriavwodo will be handed the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Delta Central Senatorial District by-election courtesy of President Goodluck Jonathan’s intervention.
Aguriavwodo, a former MD/CEO of the Niger Delta Development Commission, who resigned from the lucrative position in 2007 in a failed attempt to become Governor of Delta State, enjoys a robust relationship with President Jonathan.
The Delta Central Senatorial seat became vacant following the death of Senator Pius Ewherido of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) led by Chief Great Ogboru.
The PDP has scheduled its primary for Tuesday, September 24, 2013.
The political advisor to state Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Chief Ighoyota Amori and a former Secretary to the State Government, Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege, the two top contenders for the seat, have been locked in a very bitter and vicious campaign that neither candidate was willing to step down for the other in the senatorial district that the PDP wants to win badly as it moves to finally cripple Ogboru’s DPP in its stronghold.
THEWILL can report that the heated campaign and feud between both candidates left an opening for President Jonathan to steal the show and pressure Uduaghan and the PDP leadership in the state to settle for Aguriavwodo as compromise candidate.
When handed the ticket on Tuesday, Aguriavwodo will face very formidable candidates in the DPP and All Progressive Congress (APC).
INEC has scheduled October 05, 2013, for the by-election.
Source: THEWILL