2023 Delta State gubernatorial election

The 2023 Delta State gubernatorial election will take place on 11 March 2023, to elect the Governor of Delta State, concurrent with elections to the Delta State House of Assembly as well as twenty-seven other gubernatorial elections and elections to all other state houses of assembly.[1][2] The election will be held two weeks after the presidential election and National Assembly elections. Incumbent PDP Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to a third term.

2023 Delta State gubernatorial election
early 2023
 
Party APC PDP
Governor before election

Ifeanyi Okowa
PDP

 Elected Governor

TBD
TBD

Electoral system

The Governor of Delta State is elected using a modified two-round system. To be elected in the first round, a candidate must receive the plurality of the vote and over 25% of the vote in at least two-thirds of state local government areas. If no candidate passes this threshold, a second round will be held between the top candidate and the next candidate to have received a plurality of votes in the highest number of local government areas.

Background

Delta State is a diverse state in the South South; although its oil reserves make it one of the most wealthy states in the nation, Delta has faced challenges in frequent oil spills, environmental degradation, and cult violence in large part due to years of systemic corruption.

Politically, the state's 2019/ elections were categorized as a continuation of the PDP's control as Okowa won with over 80% of the vote and the party won a majority in the House of Assembly along with holding two senate seats. For the federal House, the PDP won back one seat lost from a defection but the seat of a different defector from the PDP went to the APC leaving the total results at 9 PDP, 1 APC. Although the state was easily won by PDP presidential nominee Atiku Abubakar, it still swung towards Buhari compared to 2015 and had much lower turnout.

In Okowa's May 2019 inauguration speech, he said that his second term focuses would include establishing nineteen new technical colleges, transport infrastructure, healthcare, entrepreneurship training programmes, and agriculture development.[3] Performance-wise, Okowa was praised for increasing government transparency and improving infrastructure but was criticized for the controversial Delta Line privatization and his administration’s systemic budget misappropriation.[4][5][6][7]

Primary elections

The primaries, along with any potential challenges to primary results, will take place between 4 April and 3 June 2022.[2] An informal zoning gentlemen's agreement sets the Delta Central Senatorial District to have the next governor as Delta Central has not held the governorship since 2007.[8] However, groups from both the Delta North Senatorial District and Delta South Senatorial District claimed that as one full rotation of district would be complete in 2023, the next rotation could start from any district.[9] Furthermore, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa claimed that there was no zoning agreement for the PDP[10] while the Delta APC chastised the comments and committed to zoning their ticket to Delta Central.[11][12]

All Progressives Congress

On 20 April 2022, the APC National Executive Committee announced the party's schedule for gubernatorial primaries, setting its expression of interest form price at ₦10 million and nomination form price at ₦40 million with a 50% nomination form discount for candidates younger than 40 while women and candidates with disabilities get free nomination forms. Forms are to be sold from 26 April until 6 May; after the submission of nomination forms by 10 May, candidates are to be screened by a party committee on 12 May while 14 May is the date for the screening appeal process. Ward congresses and LGA congresses are set for between 7 and 9 May to elect delegates for the primary. Candidates approved by the screening process will advance to a primary set for 18 May, in concurrence with other APC gubernatorial primaries; challenges to the result can be made on 20 May.[13][14][15]

Declared

Declined
  • Olorogun Jaro Egbo: lawyer[18]

People's Democratic Party

On 16 March 2022, the national PDP announced its gubernatorial primaries' schedule, setting its expression of interest form price at ₦1 million and the nomination form price at ₦20 million with a 50% discount for candidates between 25 and 30. Forms were to be sold until 1 April but the party later extended the deadline four times before reaching a final deadline of 22 April. After the submission of nomination forms by 25 April, candidates are to be screened by a party committee on 28 April while 2 May is the rescheduled date for the screening appeal process. Ward congresses are set for 29 April and LGA congresses are set for 5 May to elect delegates for the primary.[19] Candidates approved by the screening process will advance to a primary set for 21 May, in concurrence with all other PDP gubernatorial primaries; challenges to the result can be made on 24 May.[20][21]

Declared

Withdrew
  • Ediri Idimi: engineer[35]

See also

References
  1. Oyekanmi, Rotimi (26 February 2022). "It's Official: 2023 Presidential, National Assembly Elections to Hold Feb 25". INEC News. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  2. Jimoh, Abbas (26 February 2022). "INEC Sets New Dates For 2023 General Elections". Daily Trust. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  3. "For The Record: Full text of Inauguration speech of Delta Governor Ifeanyi Okowa". Premium Times. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  4. "RANKING NIGERIAN GOVERNORS, SEPTEMBER, 2019: Top 5, Bottom 5". Ripples Nigeria. Retrieved 18 March 2022. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State makes the Top 5 governors in Nigeria for his promotion of open governance, with the finances of the state placed in the public domain. We take cognizance of the publication of the state’s annual budget and its performance for public monitoring and scrutiny. This, we note, is capable of promoting transparency, integrity in the conduct of government business and ultimately confidence of the governed...The administration’s commitment to road infrastructure gets a positive look in.
  5. "RANKING NIGERIAN GOVERNORS, DECEMBER 2019: Top 5, Bottom 5". Ripples Nigeria. Retrieved 18 March 2022. We note his efforts at building roads in different parts of the state and specifically commend him for the N18 billion dedicated for building 6 storm drainages to solve the problems of flooding in Warri and Uvwie.
  6. Markson, Isaac. "Shady deal that marred sale of Delta Line". International Centre for Investigative Reporting. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  7. Markson, Isaac. "Investigation: Okowa Government, House of Assembly in a multi-billion naira scandal (PART 1)". International Centre for Investigative Reporting. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  8. "Delta 2023: Asagba of Asaba affirms support for rotational Governorship". Vanguard. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  9. Dania, Onozure. "2023: Ijaw agenda for Delta gov'ship sacrosanct – INC Spokesperson". Vanguard. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  10. Okwara, Amaechi. "2023: No agreement on rotation of guber seat in Delta – Okowa". Blueprint Newspaper. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  11. Sobechi, Leo; Osayande, Monday (7 June 2021). "Delta PDP and 2023 zoning albatross". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2021-06-07. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  12. Egburonu, Sam. "2023 governorship: Zoning debate heats up Delta". The Nation. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  13. Majeed, Bakare (20 April 2022). "UPDATED: 2023: APC fixes presidential forms for N100 million, adopts indirect primaries". Premium Times. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  14. Angbulu, Stephen; Ayeni, Victor; Dada, Peter; Naku, Dennis; Ede, Raphael (21 April 2022). "Presidential primary: APC silent on zoning, Nigerians condemn N100m nomination fee". The Punch. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  15. APC Nigeria [@OfficialAPCNg] (April 25, 2022). "OFFICIAL" (Tweet). Retrieved 26 April 2022 – via Twitter.
  16. Onyekachukwu, Kelvin. "Delta 2023: Ighofose Joins Governorship Race". Independent Nigeria. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  17. "Omo-Agege officially declares for Delta governorship race". TVC News. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  18. Akuopha, Ochuko. "2023: Egbo jettisons guber ambition, says APC tickets worthless in Delta". Vanguard. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  19. Angbulu, Stephen (21 April 2022). "2023: PDP extends sale of forms for fourth time". The Punch. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  20. Yakubu, Dirisu (16 March 2022). "[BREAKING] 2023: PDP Presidential primary holds in May". Vanguard. Abuja. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  21. Akpan, Samuel (17 March 2022). "2023: PDP releases pre-election schedule, fixes presidential primary poll for May 28". TheCable. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  22. "Delta Gov 2023: Pros and cons of the aspirantsDelta Gov 2023: Pros and cons of the aspirants". Vanguard. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  23. Nweje, Chukwudi. "Why I want to govern Delta State –David Edevbie". The Sun. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  24. "6th Anniversary: Okowa Still Waxing Stronger on Development of Delta – Esievo". Asaba Metro. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  25. Onabu, Omon-Julius. "Gbagi Visits PDP's Chairman, Extols Okowa's Virtues". ThisDay. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  26. Egburonu, Sam. "2023 governorship: Zoning debate heats up Delta". The Nation. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  27. Sobechi, Leo; Osayande, Monday. "Delta PDP and 2023 zoning albatross". The Guardian (Nigeria). Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  28. Edremoda, Elo. "Delta 2023: Uduaghan cautions against 'hate speech'". The Nation. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  29. "2023: Iyovwaye declares for Delta governorship". The Nation. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  30. Edomi, Ovie. "Delta 2023: Fred Okiemute Majemite— The Man who the cap fits". Vanguard. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  31. Angbulu, Stephen. "Senator Manager picks Delta PDP gov form". The Punch. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  32. "2023: Delta speaker joins governorship race". Premium Times. News Agency of Nigeria. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  33. Omonigho, Matthew. "Delta 2023: Gov. Okowa's aide, Odebala resigns". Daily Post. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  34. Ojiego, Nnamdi. "2023: Otuaro declares for governorship, promises to make Delta industrialized state". Vanguard. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  35. "DELTA 2023: Idimi (UBIOMOR) Steps Down, Declares Support For Gbagi …Consider Stepping Down For Gbagi, Idimi Urges Other Aspirants". Famous Reporters. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.