Delta State gubernatorial candidate on the platform of the Democratic People’s Party, DPP, Mr. Great Ogboru, has faulted the entry of former Secretary to the State Government in the state, Chief Ovie Omo-Agege, into the governorship race.

Ogboru, who spoke with journalists in Lagos, argued that the election was supposed to be a rerun and only those who participated in the first election should take part in the re-run.

He said the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was being careful not to be labeled as being against any candidate, adding, however, that the ambition of Omo-Agege remains illegal.

He said, “you see, INEC is a body that is being, for a long time, vilified over exclusion of persons. So, INEC may be tempted to be more flexible so as not to be accused of excluding somebody unlawfully. But this is an issue that is based on legality. It’s a legal issue purely, so we are going to put it to test and I’m sure that the judiciary will not allow an illegality to stand for an election in this situation.”

An Appeal Court sitting in Benin had ordered a rerun election within 90 days after quashing the election of the erstwhile Governor.

Speaking on what he plan to do with Delta State’s funds if elected and his assessment of Uduaghan and Ibori’s administrations, Ogboru lamented the widespread poverty in a supposedly rich state while he attributed the state’s poor economy to massive capital flights by the previous administrations.

He said, “we have said that in Delta State, having taken a very critical look at the situation in the  state, we discovered that indeed the economy of that state is sterile. It is extremely weak and that has increased poverty in the supposedly rich state and has made access to capital almost impossible and therefore, savings, investments, are just practically not there.

“Our people are pauperized but it should not be so. So when you look carefully, you will understand that the main causal factor is because the money that is supposed to be invested in that state is just not there.

“There is capital flight from that state by the previous administrations including the one that just left. Massive capital flights, that is why we have heard stories of funds in Dubai, London, Switzerland and South Africa. Then, where are the funds for Delta State? They are just not there,” he said.