By Hugo Odiogor

As Delta State Senatorial aspirants square up for the primaries on Sunday, to chose senators from the three Senatorial zones, the race is contentious and intriguing, given the calibre of persons that are contesting for the slots.

Notable among them are Chief James Manager, a fourth term senator for the same district with the outgoing governor.

With the declaration of Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa that he is not returning to the Senate, the race for Delta North is open to new comers among whom are Chief Peter Nwaoboshi, Dr. Maryam Nneanmaka Ali, Hon. Pascal Adigwe, Mrs. Doris Uboh and Chief Paul Osaji.

Delta Central senatorial seat is not in contention as the bye election to replace the late Senator Pius Ewerhido was held just last year, with Hon. Emmanuel Agwarivwuodo emerging as the winner.

The victory of Aguariavwuodo finally gave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) all the three senatorial seats as Delta Central had voted for opposition Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) for the senatorial seat in addition to 11 seats in Delta House of Assembly.

Aguarivwuodo who had attempted joining the governorship race seemed to have given up the idea of trading certainty for uncertainty.

In Delta North, it is a straight battle between a former state chairman of the PDP, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi, and Dr. Maryam N. Ali. Apart from running a rancour-free PDP in Delta State, Nwaoboshi remained the voice of Anioma people when some forces rose against the idea of Delta North producing the governor in 2015.

He successfully piloted the party to two crucial governorship in 2011 in the face of the opposition from Delta Central which wanted to topple the Uduaghan administration through a judicial process and a re-run election. Another contender is Chief Pascal Adigwe who represented Aniocha, Oshimili Federal Constituency.in the House of Representatives. Political analysts in the state argue that the fact that Prince Ned Nwoko is better remembered during his term in the lower legislative House, 12 years after his exit,   speaks volume of whatever accomplishments Adigwe may lay claims to in his bid to convince Anioma people that he is the best man for the job. Hon. Paul Osaji, who was a former Commissioner for Works, is another notable senatorial aspirant who believes that he has the experience to give the Anioma people quality representation.

Mrs. Doris Oboh was a member of the House of Representative where she was suspended along with other members who confronted the former speaker of the House Mr. Dimeji Bankole.

Nwoko, speaking on Nwaoboshi’s aspiration, said, “I may not endorse all the things that Chief Nwaoboshi did as a member of the Ibori-Uduaghan political machine, but one marks him out of the lot, his passionate defence of Anioma issues.

Chief Nwaoboshi has over the years taken risks and stood up for Anioma people. There is no denying the fact that he was the most vocal of all the other aspirants on the issues of equity and justice for Delta North.

Dr. Uduaghan is facing a stiff challenge from Chief James Manager who was widely expected to have been penciled down for the office of the Deputy governor as a soft landing for leaving the Senate.

Whatever happens at the election today will have a serious impact on the governorship primaries on Monday, December 8.