Delta APC Chieftain Dismisses Claims of Emerhor Stepping Down, Cites Lack of Formal Declaration for 2027 Race

Adelabu Bodjor dismisses claims of O’tega Emerhor quitting the 2027 senatorial race, citing his failure to formally declare interest and questioning equity arguments.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 18, 2026, 10:10 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from LEADERSHIP News.

Rebuttal of "Stepping Down" Narrative

Olorogun Barrister Adelabu Bodjor has officially labeled claims that Olorogun O’tega Emerhor stepped down from the 2027 Delta Central senatorial race as "misleading and unfounded." Speaking in response to the Emerhor Political Family (EPF), Bodjor pointed out a logical inconsistency in their narrative: a candidate cannot withdraw from a contest they never officially entered. He emphasized that Emerhor did not declare interest in 2023, and as such, there is no formal record or basis for a withdrawal in favor of the incumbent, Senator Ede Dafinone.

Equity Argument and Historical Representation

The EPF, led by Chief Martins Ohwehwo, recently urged Senator Dafinone to vacate his seat for Emerhor based on "political balance." However, Bodjor challenged this interpretation of equity, noting that the Ughelli Federal Constituency has dominated the senatorial seat for approximately 20 of the 28 years since the 1999 transition to democracy. He argued that if Emerhor (who is from Ughelli North) were to be elected, that dominance would extend to 24 out of 32 years, which he claims contradicts the very principle of fairness the EPF claims to champion.

Call for Open Primaries Over "Subtle Blackmail"

Bodjor urged all aspirants to move away from sentiment and instead focus on presenting their programs and capacity to the electorate. He accused Emerhor’s supporters of employing "subtle blackmail" to whip up public sympathy rather than testing their principal's popularity in a free and fair party primary. He questioned why there is a perceived "panic move" to secure the seat through indirect pressure if the "founding leader" has the genuine capacity to win a competitive internal election.