ASABA — The Director-General of the Delta State Traffic Management Authority (DESTMA), Hon. Benjamin Essien Okiemute, has called on former Delta State lawmaker, Hon. Michael Diden, popularly known as Ejele, to withdraw his court case challenging the emergence of Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Delta South Senatorial District in the 2027 general election.
Okiemute made the appeal while reacting to the legal dispute arising from the APC direct primary election held on May 18, 2026, in which Senator Joel-Onowakpo emerged as the party’s candidate for the Delta South senatorial contest.
He urged Diden to embrace the APC’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms instead of pursuing litigation, stressing that reconciliation would foster unity and position the party for success in the 2027 general election.
According to Okiemute, the collective interest of the APC should take precedence over individual political ambitions, noting that resolving the matter amicably would strengthen the party’s cohesion across Delta South.
The DESTMA boss, who is also an APC chieftain from Isoko South Local Government Area, argued that the Delta South Senatorial seat should remain in Isoko for two consecutive terms in the interest of equity, fairness and political stability.
He maintained that Senator Joel-Onowakpo should be allowed to complete a second term in office, saying the arrangement aligns with the spirit of political understanding among the ethnic nationalities in the district.
“For the sake of peace, unity and togetherness, Hon. Michael Diden should consider withdrawing the case and support Senator Joel-Onowakpo’s second-term bid,” Okiemute said.
He added that the Itsekiri ethnic nationality should have the opportunity to produce the district’s senator in 2031 after the completion of Joel-Onowakpo’s tenure.
Okiemute further argued that granting the senator a second term would enable him to consolidate ongoing constituency projects, legislative initiatives and development programmes for the benefit of the people of Delta South.
He also appealed to APC leaders and stakeholders across the district to close ranks and prioritise reconciliation, warning that prolonged internal disputes could weaken the party’s chances in the 2027 elections.
Okiemute served as Deputy Director-General of the Joel-Onowakpo Campaign Organisation during the 2023 general election and played a key role in the campaign that led to the senator’s victory.
