Members of the 1st to 8th Delta State House of Assembly, Thursday at an extraordinary session in Asaba, adopted President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and Governor Sheriff Oborevwori as sole candidates for the 2027 Presidential and Governorship elections respectively.
The serving and former legislators also at the special session, presided by the current Speaker of the House, Rt Hon Emomotimi Dennis Guwor, also passed vote of implicit confidence on the duo for their strides in promoting good governance and development.
The motion was moved by a member of the 1st Assembly, and former member of the Federal House of Representatives, Rt Hon Halims Agoda, seconded by a member of the 2nd Assembly who was the Majority Leader of the House, Hon Kris Njokwuemeni and adopted.
The adoption and confidence votes on President Tinubu and Governor Oborevwori by the serving and former members, referred to as Non-Sitting Members of the House, were the highpoint of the maiden edition of the Delta State House of Assembly Speaker’s Annual Leadership Series, with the theme LEADERSHIP DYNAMICS IN THE DELTA STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW.
In his keynote address, Rt Hon Guwor said there was the need to build a harmonious consensus in the face of diverse, complex, and competing interests in the Legislature for inclusive governance in Delta State.
“It is with great pleasure, humility, and a deep sense of history that I welcome you all to this memorable gathering of non-sitting Members and Members of the 8th Assembly of the Delta State House of Assembly. Today, we are not just holding an event; we are connecting the past with the present, and laying stronger foundations for the future of legislative governance in our dear State.
“This moment is significant because every Assembly represented here today, from the First Assembly of 1992 to the Seventh Assembly that preceded ours, has contributed immensely to shaping the democratic journey of Delta State.
Each era came with its peculiar challenges and triumphs, yet our predecessors stayed committed to the ideals of democracy, representation, and service to the people”.
The Speaker explained that it was a privileged to have among the non-sitting Members of the House, the current Governor of Delta State, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, who once served the noble institution as a Presiding Officer of the Sixth and Seventh Assemblies.
“This event is more than a reunion. It is a forum for reflection, knowledge sharing, and mentorship. We, the 8th Assembly, recognize that the wisdom and experience of those who came before us are invaluable. Governance and lawmaking thrive when institutional memory is preserved and transferred.
By hosting you, we seek to renew the bond of fellowship among legislators past and present and to draw inspiration from your experiences in navigating the complex and sometimes turbulent waters of legislative practice”, Guwor stated.
The Speaker maintained that learning from the experiences of predecessors, would strengthen the institutional resilience and protect the dignity of the Assembly, stressing that the past, present, and future Members of the House must continue to work together to build a virile legislature that supports the Executive in achieving sustainable development and delivering quality service to the people.
“As a partner in governance, the legislature must not be seen as an adversary but as a collaborator in progress, firm in oversight, fair in judgment, and focused on results that improve lives.
“Distinguished colleagues and elder statesmen, today’s gathering is a reminder that the House of Assembly is a living institution; one that grows, learns, and evolves through each Assembly. Let us therefore use this opportunity to deepen our unity, renew our shared purpose, and strengthen our resolve to make Delta State a model of legislative excellence and good governance”, Guwor added.
The Speaker thanked the legislators for their support for Mr President and Governor Oborevwori, even as he described the adoption of the duo for another term in office as a welcome development and pointer to greater progress in the state.
In their comments, some non sitting members including Rt Hon Victor Ochei, Frank Enekorogha, Emmanuel Okoro , Basil Ganagana, Ovie Agas, Funkekeme Solomon, Orezi Esievo, Anthony Elekeokwuri and Johnson Erijo, commended the Speaker of the 8th Assembly, Emomotimi Guwor for the initiative, saying that such gathering of former and current legislators would promote peace, progress, and prosperity in the state.
The Chairman Planning Committee of the special session and Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt Hon Arthur Akpowowo, said the gathering was first of its kind in Nigeria and thanked participants for honouring the invitation, saying that the camaraderie and experiences would remain evergreen.
A communique is being expected as at the time of filing in this report.
