As the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) unveiled the time-table for the 2024 local council elections in the state, a socio-political group, Progressive Political Advocates (PPA), has appealed to the state governor, Hon. Sheriff Obovrevwori “to allow the Ogbe-Ijoh Ward to produce the chairman for Warri South-West Local Government Area.”
The group stated that it is their turn based on the existing working arrangements among the stakeholders in the council area.
In the timetable for the council polls released by the Chairman of DSIEC, Dr. R.J.A. Agbaike, a few days ago, the local government elections in Delta would be held on July 13, 2024, while party primaries by political parties were to commence on May 6, 2024, and end on May 26, 2024.
The PPA, in its open letter to Governor Oborevwori, signed by the Coordinator, Mr Godspower Benakiegha, copies of which were made available to journalists in Ogbe-Ijoh, stated that the call on the governor became imperative “because the Ogbe-Ijoh people do not want external interference from neighbours who have had their turn to produce the local government chairman in contrast to the gentleman agreement which is common knowledge to all concerned.”
It added, “In upholding the existing zoning arrangement in the forthcoming local government elections, the Ogbe-Ijoh ward should produce the Delta LG poll, Ogbe-Ijoh, Warri S’West chairman without interference.
“The Itsekiri community had the first elected chairman, followed by the Gbaramatu Ijaws, and then back to the Itsekiri.”
The group’s open letter to the governor partly reads, “With this pattern, it is now the turn of the Ijaw, specifically the Ogbe-Ijoh Ward, to produce the next chairman.
“The existing gentleman agreement has so far promoted peace and unity between the Itsekiri and Ijaw communities in Warri South West Local Government.“After the tenure of the Gbaramatu Ijaw, only Ogbe-Ijoh and Isaba Wards are left to produce an elected chairman, according to the zoning arrangement.
“We wish to bring to the notice of the governor of Delta State that by zoning arrangements between the Itsekiri and the Ijaw in Warri South West Local Government that have fostered unity and peace in the last three local council elections, the Itsekiri had the first elected chairman of the council, the late Hon. David Atikpekpe and the Vice Chairman was the late Hon. Daniel Akada from Gbaramatu.
“After the Itsekiri elected tenure, the Gbaramatu Ijaw produced the next elected chairman, Hon. George Ekpemupolo with his vice an Itsekiri, Hon. Blexons Omadoyi and after their tenure, the chairmanship position went back to the Itsekiri and Hon. Taiye Duke Tuoyo became the next chairman. It’s now the turn of Ijaw to produce the next council chairman. Gbaramatu Ijaw had taken their turn in the person of Hon. George Ekpemupolo, leaving Ogbe-Ijoh and Isaba Wards as the Ijaw yet to produce an elected chairman.”
 appealed to Sheriff Obovrevwori to allow Ogbe-Ijoh Ward to produce the chairman for Warri South-West){kind=link}