Why Sen. Ede Dafinone’s return to Senate is justifiable

BY NOSA AKENZUA, ASABA

Politics in Delta Central Senatorial District has once again entered the season of arguments, alignments, and realignments as conversations continue to grow over who should represent the people in the Senate come 2027.

At the center of the debate is the incumbent Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Sen. Ede Dafinone, whose possible return to the Red Chamber has generated mixed reactions from political actors across the district.

While some persons have openly supported his return based on performance and continuity, others have argued that he should not seek re-election because the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, and the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Delta Central are all from Okpe Kingdom.

However, when this argument is carefully examined, it is crystal clear that it lacks consistency and fairness.

The biggest question begging for an answer today is, what has really changed between 2023 and now?

During the 2023 general elections, Delta Central witnessed a political arrangement that clearly showed that the opposing political actors were more interested in fighting a perceived political enemy, the person of Sen. Ighoyota Amori than giving room for equity, justice, and balancing the political equation in the District.

At that time, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was led in Delta State by Chief Kingsley Esiso, a politician widely known for playing his politics from Sapele in Okpe Kingdom. The APC Chairman in Delta Central, Chief Paulinus Akpeki, was also from the Okpe Kingdom.

In the same election, the PDP presented Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, an Okpe son, as its governorship candidate, while the APC presented Sen. Ede Dafinone, also from Okpe Kingdom, for the Delta Central Senatorial seat.

Despite this political arrangement, the people of Delta Central voted massively and peacefully without raising the argument that the Okpe Kingdom was occupying too many political positions.

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori won the governorship election under the PDP, while Sen. Ede Dafinone won under the APC.

Interestingly, those who are today speaking loudly against the return of Sen. Ede Dafinone were mostly silent in 2023 when the same Okpe political structure existed.

This is why many people now see the current opposition as selective politics rather than a genuine fight for fairness and equity.

Politics should not change its definition simply because personal interests have changed.

If it was acceptable in 2023 for Okpe sons to occupy strategic positions across party lines, then it becomes difficult to suddenly describe the same arrangement as unfair in 2027.

Sen. Ede Dafinone was not elected because he is from Okpe Kingdom but because he is a proud son of the Delta Central Senatorial District.

Sen. Ede Dafinone deserves the opportunity to continue the work he has started in the Senate.

Delta Central is home to politically informed and educated voters who understand the history and political realities of the district. We are intelligent enough to separate genuine arguments from political convenience. Equity must always be balanced with sincerity and consistency.

A popular political saying goes: “He who seeks equity must come with clean hands.” The people who defended the same political arrangement in 2023 cannot suddenly wake up in 2027 to condemn it simply because political interests have shifted.

Conversation should focus more on performance, representation, and service delivery rather than selective political narratives.

Sen. Ede Dafinone’s return to the Senate is both justifiable and necessary for continuity, stability, and sustained representation for the Urhobo Nation.