Embattled Delta Central Senator, Ede Dafinone has received a major political lift in his fight for political survival in the 2027 elections, drawing strength from an unlikely quarter, Senator Ighoyota Amori, a long-standing rival of his former benefactor, Ovie Omo-Agege.
MJConcept TV News reports that Dafinone’s renewed alliance with Amori, who serves as Chief Adviser to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, is being seen as a strategic boost as he battles to retain the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senatorial ticket in Delta Central against a formidable opposition led by Omo-Agege.
The contest is shaping into a high-stakes political showdown. Apart from Omo-Agege who is seeking a return to the Senate seat he vacated in 2023, other heavyweights in the race include Chief O’tega Emerhor, Barr. Samuel Mariere, Chief Patrick Muoboghare, Chief Fred Majemite, and Chief John Nani, all bringing their own political clout and calculations into an already crowded field.
MJConcept TV News reports that Dafinone’s re-election bid is further complicated by geopolitical considerations, particularly suggestions that the Okpe ancestry he shares with Governor Oborevwori may work against him with suggestions that the two highest political office going to the Okpe nation in Delta Central.
Ironically, Omo-Agege had backed Dafinone for the Senate seat in 2023 after stepping aside to pursue the governorship. However, with Oborevwori now firmly in control of the state and having defected to the APC, the former Deputy Senate President is recalibrating his ambitions with a determined push to reclaim the Senate seat, putting him on a direct collision course with his former protégé.
Amori’s decision to align with Dafinone carries deep political undertones. A respected power broker whose influence dates back to the era of James Ibori, Amori has maintained relevance across political cycles. His relationship with Omo-Agege has been fraught since 2015, when the latter unseated him from the Senate through the courts. That rivalry now appears to be shaping current alliances.
The emerging partnership between Dafinone and Amori became evident when the Senator paid a courtesy visit to Amori at his Mosogar country home on Friday, in what observers described as a calculated move to consolidate political support within the Urhobo bloc.
The meeting drew notable figures, including Ethiope West Local Government Chairman, Pastor Chris Onogba; APC chieftain, Olorogun Adelabu Bodjor; and Engr. Abraham Bobor, alongside key members of both political camps.
Despite having been on opposing sides in the 2023 elections, Dafinone under the APC and Amori under the Peoples Democratic Party, the two leaders projected a new tone of cooperation with a common base in the APC.
Speaking after the meeting, Dafinone described Amori as a respected elder statesman whose contributions to Delta politics remain invaluable, stressing the need for unity beyond partisan lines.
Amori, in turn, expressed satisfaction with Dafinone’s performance in the Senate, noting that he had not been disappointed in his representation of Delta Central. He urged political actors in the region to eschew bitterness and embrace collective interest, warning that persistent division has continued to undermine Urhobo political strength.
Political observers say the alliance signals a broader realignment in Delta Central politics, with Amori’s backing potentially altering the balance of power in the looming APC primaries.
As the 2027 elections approach, the battle for Delta Central is increasingly shaping into a test of loyalty, legacy, and shifting alliances, one in which Dafinone, once seen as vulnerable, may have found a crucial lifeline from his former godfather’s fiercest adversary.