Ahead of the March 11, 2022 governorship and House of Assembly elections, the Ijaw ethnic community in Delta State told Governor Ifeanyi Okowa that they would support the ruling Peoples Democratic Party only if he guaranteed the completion of the Ayakoromo bridge and other abandoned road projects in the riverine areas before his administration ends on May 29, 2022. The demand was outlined in a statement issued by the Ayakoromo community in Burutu and signed by Ekpegha Preye, spokesperson for Concerned Citizens for Ijaw Development. The document was made available to journalists in Warri on Saturday.
The group warned that, failing to meet these conditions, the governor should be prepared to face the EFCC or ICPC over his repeated borrowing and loans that they claim have harmed Delta residents toward the end of his tenure. They emphasized that the Ijaw community will not automatically vote for the umbrella party, citing the mistreatment they have endured over the past seven years. The statement accused the outgoing administration of deliberately neglecting Ijaw development, pointing to the unfinished Ayakoromo bridge, Torugbene‑Ojobo road, Odorobu, Odofori, Bulu‑Angiama road, and the Apelebiri link road to Patani main town, among others.
Consequently, the group pledged to vote against the Delta State PDP governorship candidate, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, on March 11, 2023, stating that they have lost trust and confidence in his party. They added that the Delta Ijaw people are weary of the umbrella party and intend to change the narrative by supporting another party in the upcoming elections.
The statement further read: “Governor Okowa has consistently failed to match his words with action, deceiving Ijaw people—especially the Ayakoromo community—by reneging on the promise to re‑award the Ayakoromo bridge project to SETRACO. It was unfortunate that Okowa pledged to mobilise SETRACO in early January 2023, but all his promises turned out to be lies and political gimmicks to mock Ijaw people in the state. We hereby urge Governor Okowa and the PDP‑led government to complete the Ayakoromo bridge and other abandoned road projects in the riverine communities before his administration lapses on May 29, or else be ready to face the EFCC/ICPC over his incessant borrowing and loans that have disadvantaged Deltans toward the end of his tenure.”
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