By Omos Oyinbode, Asaba
It was a big disappointment for the people of Delta as the Peoples Democratic Party Governorship candidate, Senator ifeanyi Okowa, boycotted the Governorship debate slated to hold at 7pm yesterday at the prestigious Grand Hotels in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
The Nnebisi Hall of the Grand Hotels was literally live with expectant crowd who were gathered to get full glimpse of what the three governorship candidates, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Otega Emerhor and Great Ogboru had for them.
But after keeping the people waiting for over 40 minutes, Delta State Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, turned down the invitation for the debate which was billed to be transmitted live by the Channels Television.
The debate was fixed for 7pm, and candidates of the Labour Party, Great Ogboru and All Progressives Congress, Otega Emerhor, arrived the Grand Hotels and Convention Centre at 6.45pm but Okowa kept Deltans waiting for over 40 minutes.
At exactly 7.25pm, the moderator announced that Okowa had sent a press release stating that he was not committed to the debate, hence he would not participate in it.
Also, no member of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state and members of the Okowa campaign organization attended the debate.
Immediately the announcement of Okowa’s unwillingness to attend the debate was made public, the crowd who had gathered trooped out with murmurings and discontentment.
Though the moderator told the people that the debate would hold undermining the failure of Okowa to attend, the crowd turned down the plea of the moderator as there was confusion and anger written on their faces.
However, the candidate of the Labour Party, Great Ovedje Ogboru, drew the people back but when given opportunity to address the people, he said since the major contender, Okowa turned down the request, he was not disposed to speak.
But Emerhor said the entire scenario was stage managed by the duo of Okowa and Ogboru as both parties were working together to vote for President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday.
He told the less than 10 percent audience left in the hall that he had designed good programme for the people of Delta State as he had put plans in place to change the business climate of Delta State.
Feelers from the PDP secretariat indicated that the failure of Okowa to turn up for the event was an articulated plan of the Campaign Organisation as a call put forward to a member of the party revealed that some of the party stalwarts were campaigning in some wards in the state, hence relegating the debate to the background.
