After allegedly paying $3 Million, Militant leader Government Ekpemupolo,
popularly known as Tompolo,wants to name the running mate of Senator
Ifeanyi Okowa, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governorship Candidate
of Delta State.
Sources told Pointblanknews.com that the ex-militant who recently acquired
some war ships from Norway, has effectively taken over the PDP structures
in the state to the shock of party leaders.
The PDP flag bearer, Senator Okowa, is almost helpless as his structures
have also been hijacked by the ex-militant.
With a heavy war chest, Tombolo, is now seen as the new PDP leader who now
dictates who and who will be candidate of the the Party. Sources said on
his orders, list of National and State Assembly candidates have been
replaced.
Pointblanknews.com was informed by top party members who would not want to
be named that Tompolo allegedly gave Okowa $3million on the eve of the
promaries in exchange for deputy governorship slot.
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According to sources, while Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan removed an Itsekiri
candidate and replace him with Tompolo’s brother for Warri North LGA
chairmanship, Tompolo reneged on promise to make Uduaghan PDP senatorial
candidate, instead he backed James Manager for the seat
“Tompolo wants Ijaw to have Local Government chairman which his brother
currently occupies, the Senate and Deputy Governor,” a source who would
not want to be named told Pointblanknews.com.
Delta South is made up of Ijaw, Itsekiri and Isoko. Tompolo’s position
means that Itsekiri and Isoko are left with nothing. Isoko have never
tasted the governorship or deputy before. Expectations that an Isoko will
deputise a Delta North governorship candidate is being blocked by Tompolo.
A PDP source hinted that the Senatorial ticket is supposed to be rotated
among the three ethnic groups, but the Ijaw represented by Manager have
refused to quit since it got to them. Manager is going to the Senate
for a fourth term.
Tompolo, a former commander of Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger
Delta (MEND) once declared “the most wanted man in Nigeria” in 2009 during
the administration of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, is known to be a
staunch ally of President Goodluck Jonathan.