- Reflecting on the 2023 defeat, Omo-Agege stated that the party had learned from past mistakes and was now prepared.
- He dismissed INEC’s vote tally, alleging that PDP’s victory in Warri North was due to electoral malpractice.
Former Deputy Senate President and the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Delta State’s 2023 election, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has asserted that the APC will defeat the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2027 gubernatorial contest.
Speaking during a gathering of party stakeholders in Koko, Warri North Local Government Area, on Tuesday, Omo-Agege proclaimed, “2027 is our date with destiny.”
“With President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision and achievements, along with our collective resolve, Delta will flip,” he stated.
However, Omo-Agege emphasised the need for “inclusive stakeholder engagement,” stressing that “2027 demands unity. We must put aside divisions between old and new members and work together towards a common goal.”
Reflecting on the APC’s close defeat in the 2023 Delta State governorship election, the former Deputy Senate President vowed that the ruling PDP would be unseated in the next poll.
“We came so close in 2023 but fell short by a whisker.
“However, we’ve learnt from our mistakes and are now more determined than ever to win Delta State for the APC,” he said.
Omo-Agege mobilised his supporters, addressed concerns following the election, and dismissed the Independent National Electoral Commission’s figures of 4,000 votes for APC and 10,000 for PDP in Warri North, alleging the PDP engaged in electoral fraud.
“Our votes were organic; theirs were products of writing,” he claimed.
Defending Tinubu’s economic strategies, Omo-Agege underscored the removal of fuel subsidies and the unification of exchange rates as necessary measures for growth.
While acknowledging the immediate difficulties, he portrayed these policies as fundamental steps towards the advancement of both Delta State and Nigeria as a whole.
“Although increased fuel, food, and forex prices cause pain, President Tinubu’s wise decision-making will yield a better future,” Omo-Agege added.
He pointed out that Delta State now benefits from increased funding, as President Tinubu redirects savings to states beyond Abuja.
This, he argued, would significantly impact development and improve the APC’s chances in the 2027 elections, aligning with the president’s Renewed Hope agenda.
Addressing criticisms from stakeholders, Omo-Agege admitted to strategic missteps, particularly the failure to integrate new members, which resulted in the alienation of party loyalists.
“We’ve paid the price for this oversight,” he admitted.
“I should have fostered a stronger bond between old and new members. That error had significant consequences,” he added.
He encouraged PDP members to defect, describing the ruling party as a “sinking ship” on the verge of collapse.
While acknowledging that the APC also grapples with internal challenges, he minimised these disputes as “growing pains” in the build-up to 2027.
“Post-congress disputes are not unique to us; even the PDP is grappling with internal conflicts,” he argued.
Omo-Agege also criticised APC members who boycotted the previous election due to grievances, labelling their actions as self-defeating.
“Why stay home? Vote first, defend your votes, and then resolve issues. By staying away, we all lose,” he said.
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