SAPELE/Nigeria: Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Ede Dafinone, has called on Urhobo political leaders and stakeholders to reconsider their political strategy ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that continued opposition to successive state administrations could weaken the ethnic nationality’s influence in Delta politics.
Dafinone made the appeal during the inauguration of coordinators of the Ede Dafinone Admirers Movement (EDAM) across the eight local government areas and 85 wards of Delta Central, held at his residence in Sapele, where he urged the Urhobo people to place their collective political interests above individual ambitions.
The senator, who is the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the 2027 Delta Central senatorial election, argued that the Urhobo political class had lost opportunities for greater participation in governance by remaining largely outside successive ruling political structures.
He specifically referred to the administrations of former governors Emmanuel Uduaghan and Ifeanyi Okowa, as well as the early political developments surrounding Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s emergence, saying that divisions within the Urhobo political establishment had affected the ethnic group’s position in the state’s political arrangement.
According to him, the Urhobo nation should learn from previous political experiences and avoid repeating what he described as costly political decisions in 2027.
Dafinone cautioned against allowing the personal political ambitions of individuals to determine the collective direction of Delta Central, arguing that the district’s interests in government appointments, infrastructure, development programmes and other opportunities should remain paramount.
He also drew attention to the political implications of the anticipated 2031 governorship contest, noting that under the informal rotational understanding in the state, Delta South would be expected to have another opportunity to produce the governor.
He maintained that political relationships and alliances could influence the distribution of opportunities under successive administrations, urging Urhobo leaders to approach the 2027 elections with greater unity and strategic consideration.
The senator consequently charged members of EDAM to strengthen their grassroots structures and mobilise support for all APC candidates in the forthcoming elections.
The inauguration brought together local government and ward coordinators who were sworn in to expand the movement’s organisational reach across Delta Central.
Tracing the organisation’s history to 2022, Dafinone credited his supporters, particularly his brother, Sam Dafinone, whom he identified as the movement’s founder, for initiating the social media campaign that eventually evolved into EDAM ahead of the 2023 general elections.
“My brother, Sam, the founder of this movement, started a campaign on social media. He kept saying, ‘A day is coming. A day is coming,'” the senator recalled.
Speaking on his approach to public service, Dafinone said his experience in the private sector had shaped his belief in accessible representation and practical service delivery.
He maintained that constituents should be able to reach their elected representatives and receive attention when seeking assistance.
“I genuinely believe that my assignment is to work for my people. If I say I am working for my people, they must be able to reach me,” he said.
The senator identified human capital development as a major focus of his representation, listing employment opportunities, scholarships, contracts and promotions among the areas in which his office assists constituents.
He explained that his position as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Character had provided an additional platform to support qualified constituents seeking opportunities in federal institutions and organisations.
“My office provides recommendations for employment, scholarships and contracts. The objective is to create a level playing field,” he stated.
On constituency projects, Dafinone disclosed that interventions had been facilitated in 83 of the 85 wards in Delta Central, expressing optimism that the remaining two wards would benefit before the completion of the implementation of the last budget.
Among the projects he highlighted were a proposed train station at Egbore in Ughelli South Local Government Area and a 50-bed hostel at the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun.
He also listed skills acquisition initiatives covering agriculture, fishing, scaffolding and rigging, describing them as part of efforts to improve the economic prospects of constituents.
Earlier, the National Chairman of EDAM, Sam Dafinone, represented by the movement’s Delta Central Chairman, Billy Egbe, explained that the organisation was established to promote awareness of the senator’s professional background, achievements and leadership qualities ahead of the 2023 elections.
Egbe acknowledged the contributions of the late Sam Omoko and Barrister Emmanuel to the movement’s growth, noting that EDAM had developed from an initial political mobilisation initiative into a broader organisation with structures across the senatorial district.
The newly inaugurated coordinators were charged with strengthening the movement’s presence at the grassroots and sustaining engagement with residents across Delta Central ahead of the 2027 elections.
