With just three weeks until the All Progressives Congress (APC) Delta Central Senatorial primary, heavyweights Former Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege and APC Chieftain, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor faces mounting pressure to bow out of the race.
The duo, both national political figures, are reportedly scaling back their ambitions after failed bids for top endorsements from APC’s Abuja leadership and a slipping hold on Delta State’s party.
Insiders within the APC hierarchy reveal that both men are wary of a potential “embarrassment” at the polls against the incumbent, Senator Ede Dafinone. Dafinone is said to be enjoying a groundswell of support from both legacy and new members of the party, making a primary challenge increasingly risky for the duo.
Chief James Etabunor, a party chieftain, disclosed that Omo-Agege has lobbied national leaders for a “consensus candidate” slot as payback for his 2023 gubernatorial defeat. Emerhor, on the other hand is pushing hard for sole-candidate status, but both efforts flopped, leaving them hesitant to formally enter the fray.
“Their influence in Delta APC has faded; they lack the structure to win a fair primary or general election,” an anonymous source told reporters. Without guaranteed nods, analysts predict the pair may skip buying expression of interest and nomination forms altogether.
As the primary date approaches, the political atmosphere in Delta Central remains tense. Sources added that if the sought-after endorsements do not materialise in the coming days, both Omo-Agege and Emerhor may decline to purchase the expression of interest and nomination forms, effectively ending their 2027 senatorial bids before they begin.