By Sunday Apah
The Prunning/Screening Committee of Gubernatorial Aspirants Committee setup by the Delta Central 2023 (DC-23) lobby group has submitted its final report with Olorogun David Edevbie, Chief Kenneth Gbagi and Rt. Hon. Chief Sheriff Oborevwori making the list.
It would be recalled that the committee was inaugurated on 25th October, 2021 with Prof. Nyerhovwo Tonukari as Chairman, Prof. Sunny Awhefeada, Secretary while Chief Arthur Akpowowo, Chief Dr. (Mrs.) Augustina Erah, Hon. Felix Anirah, Mr. Tony Omonemu, Revd. Fr. Christopher Ekabor, Chief Anthony Akpomiemie, Chief Andy Osawota, Deacon Raymond Edijala, Dr. Godfrey Enita, Deaconess Florence Jakpovi and Mrs. Rarute Mgbeke as members.
The Prunning/Screening Committee of Gubernatorial Aspirants Committee had on December 13th submitted its first report with Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, Chief James Augoye, Chief David Edevbie, Chief Kenneth Gbagi and Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori making the list.
The committee was further directed to prune the number to three as encapsulated in the committee terms of reference.
The committee was given terms of references to look into their acceptability across the state, accessibility, integrity/credibility, capability, development strategy and Pan-Delta disposition.
The Secretary of the committee, Prof. Sunny Awhefeada who read the report on behalf of the committee, said after series of meetings and screening exercise within the given time, they recommended the following persons on alphabetical order of their surnames; Chief David Edevbie, Chief Kenneth Gbagi and Rt. Hon. Chief Sheriff Oborevwori
He added in the report that the selection of the three aspirants out of the five took place in the morning of the 6 of February, 2022, and that the evaluation of each aspirant was based on criteria previously agreed upon by all members of the Screening Committee.
In his response, National Chairman of DC-23, Chief Senator Ighoyota Amori conmended the committee to have painstakingly carried out the assignment given them.
He pleaded with those who didn’t make the list of three to accept the committee’s report and recommendation in good faith, as only one person can be Governor at a time. The five aspirants are all heroes and winners”, he added.
He noted that the DC-23 leadership shall continue to uphold fairness and transparency in the discharge of its responsibilities without fear or favour.
The DC-23, after the adoption of the report, called on political leaders and stakeholders across the state to queue behind any of the three aspirants as the decision to pick one among the three now rely solely on Deltans.
Those who attended the meeting include Chief Senator Ighoyota Amori, National Chairman, Hon. Solomon Ighrakpata, Chief Suru Salami, 2nd Vice National Chairman, Deputy National Chairman, Olorogun Bernard Edewor, Deputy Chairman BoT, Dr. Chris Oharisi, National Secretary, Olorogun Arthur Akpowowo, National Publicity Secretary, OlorogunTaleb Tebite, National Financial Secretary, Hon. Godwin Atose, National Organising Secretary, Rt. Hon. Sunday Apah, Assistant National Publicity Secretary, Chief Emmanuel Ighomena, Secretary BoT, Princess Philomena Ededey, Assistant National Welfare Officer, Mr. Abraham Whisky, National Provost, Hon. Festus Pemu, Assistant National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Austin Opubor, National Welfare Officer, Chief Anthony Akpomiemie, National Auditor, Chief George Osikorobia, Assistant National Auditor, Dcn Raymond Edijala, Assistant National Treasurer, Mrs. Oma Adason-Efeviroro, Ex-officio.
Others are Dr. Amos Ighoroje, Hon. Elohor Urhobe, Chief Andy Osawota, Chief Mrs. Philomena Oyearone, Chief Mrs. Margret Unukegwo and Chief Solomon Oturu.