JESSE/Nigeria: Senator Ede Dafinone’s re-election campaign has received fresh backing from youth leaders and political stakeholders in Idjerhe, Mosogar and Oghara kingdoms in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State, following a series of consultations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
During visits to the three communities on Friday, October 16, the leaders pledged to mobilise grassroots support for Dafinone, who represents Delta Central Senatorial District, and other candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, alongside the expressions of political support, the consultations also brought local development concerns into focus, with Idjerhe youth leaders urging the senator to give greater attention to the kingdom’s needs through his constituency intervention programmes.
Dafinone began the consultations in Jesse, Idjerhe Kingdom, at the residence of Chief Halims Agoda, a prominent APC leader. He was accompanied by Delta Central APC Chairman, Chief Paulinus Akpeki; Chief Adelabu Bodjor; Hon. Austine Ayemidejor; former Sapele Local Government Chairman, Chief Eugene Inoaghan; APC candidate for Sapele State Constituency II, Hon. Ejiro Jamani; and other party stakeholders.
Other political figures present at the meeting included Anthony Akpomiemie, APC candidate for Ethiope West State Constituency I, Hon. Nelson Owoso, and Ethiope West Local Government Chairman, Hon. Christian Onogba.
President of Idjerhe Youths, Comrade Desmond Emoefe Agbigbe, declared the support of the kingdom’s youths for Dafinone’s second-term ambition. He also drew attention to challenges confronting the community and appealed to the senator to prioritise development needs when implementing constituency projects and interventions.
The appeal placed community development alongside electoral mobilisation as a key issue in the engagement, with the senator expected to translate political goodwill into tangible benefits for constituents.
Agoda, speaking on behalf of Idjerhe political leaders, expressed confidence in the APC’s prospects in the 2027 elections, describing victory for the party and Dafinone as a “done deal”.
From Jesse, the delegation proceeded to Mosogar Kingdom, where it was received by former senator Chief Ighoyota Amori, Chief Solomon Obareki and other political stakeholders.
Mosogar Youth President, Hon. Oki Eboigbe, pledged the support of young people in the kingdom for Dafinone’s re-election bid, assuring him of their readiness to mobilise voters ahead of the polls.
Amori, speaking on behalf of political leaders in Mosogar, also declared support for Dafinone and other APC candidates, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori.
His remarks reflected the efforts by APC stakeholders to consolidate political alliances across Ethiope West as preparations for the next general elections gather momentum.
The consultation tour ended in Oghara, where Dafinone and his entourage visited the residence of former Delta State Governor, Chief James Ibori. The delegation was received by former Ethiope West Local Government Chairman, Chief Solomon Golley, alongside community leaders and youths.
Speaking for Oghara youths, their chairman, Comrade Monday Omomedia, expressed confidence in the APC’s chances, declaring that there was no opposition in the community and predicting victory for the party across the contested positions in 2027.
Golley similarly pledged that Oghara would deliver substantial electoral support for Dafinone and other APC candidates.
Throughout the visits, Akpeki thanked the people of the three kingdoms for their reception and commended the cooperation displayed by party leaders and youth representatives. He also introduced Dafinone at the various meetings.
In his responses, the senator thanked the communities for their support and endorsement pledges. He promised to continue pursuing federal projects, programmes and development opportunities for Delta Central, while stressing the importance of cooperation between the senatorial district and the Federal Government.
Dafinone also urged constituents to support APC candidates in the 2027 elections, expressing confidence in the party’s ability to fulfil its commitments to the electorate.
The endorsements represent declarations by the leaders who participated in the consultations; their eventual electoral impact will depend on the extent to which the commitments translate into broader voter support.
For communities in Ethiope West, the consultations also underscore an important expectation: that political engagement should provide opportunities for residents to raise development concerns and seek concrete responses from their elected representatives.
As the 2027 elections approach, the challenge for the senator and party stakeholders will be to sustain these relationships while demonstrating progress on the issues affecting the communities they seek to represent.
