James Ibori and Emmanuel Uduaghan, both former Governors of Delta State, as well as a former Deputy Governor of the state, Amos Utuama, on Monday, seemingly shunned the interdenominational thanksgiving service organised by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to mark the 27th anniversary of the creation of the state.
It was gathered that the boycott of trio may not be unconnected to the ill-treatment allegedly received by Uduaghan from Okowa and the state leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The event held at the Government House Chapel, Asaba, the Delta State capital.
SaharaReporters learnt from reliable sources that Ibori is unhappy with the governor for denying his elder cousin, Uduaghan, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Delta South senatorial ticket, despite entreaties to Okowa.
There are also claims that Uduaghan and Ibori, as well as their followers, plan to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next few days to come.
A government house source told our correspondent that Okowa promised to give the ticket to James Manager, the incumbent Senator representing Delta South senatorial district in the National Assembly. He was said to have vowed not to give his predecessor the PDP ticket, following Uduaghan's alleged role against his candidacy during the PDP governorship primaries in 2014.
Speaking during the thanksgiving service, Okowa said Deltans have “a lot of reasons to thank God”.
According to Okowa: "The peace that we witness in the state today does not just indicate peace alone, but proof that we are united. Our traditional rulers are united and they are speaking with one voice; it was not so in 1991, but we thank God for where we are today. You can feel the impact of that unity and peace in the state."
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