By Enitan Abel Johngold Orheruata, mnipr
A political pressure group in Delta State, the United Ughelli South Political Reawakening Forum (UUPRF), has openly backed Chief Emuoboh Gbagi for the 2027 Delta State House of Assembly election, declaring that he remains the most credible and capable option to reposition Ughelli South Local Government Area for meaningful development.
The group said the call became necessary in view of what it described as years of poor representation, stagnation and underdevelopment in the area, warning that Ughelli South could not afford another round of leadership failure.
In a statement made available to journalists yesterday, the forum said the time had come for the people of Ughelli South to support a candidate with proven capacity, strong business background and the vision needed to attract growth and transform the constituency.
The statement, signed by Mr. Martins Ovedje and Mr. Onajite Ejaiita, Chairman and Secretary of the group respectively, lamented that despite its status as one of the notable areas in Delta State, Ughelli South had continued to suffer neglect and slow infrastructural growth due to ineffective representation over the years.
According to the group, a careful review of the area’s political representation showed that only a few had made noticeable impact, while many others fell short of the expectations of the people.
It stated: “We, the members of this political organisation, have taken time to review the representation of Ughelli South under successive administrations in Delta State, and we have come to the conclusion that, apart from Comrade Reuben Izeze, who performed creditably during the administration of former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, others did little or nothing to advance the cause of the area.”
UUPRF maintained that Ughelli South should have witnessed far greater economic and infrastructural progress if it had been represented by individuals with sound leadership ability and practical business experience.
The group said Chief Emuoboh Gbagi, an indigene of Oginibo and a member of the respected Gbagi family, possesses the pedigree, intellect and entrepreneurial strength required to deliver quality representation at the State Assembly.
It added: “Ughelli South is an ancient and important part of Delta State and ought to have recorded far more infrastructural development than what is on ground today. If men with sound business acumen like Chief Emuoboh Gbagi had been elected to represent the area, the story would have been different. We can attest to his intellectual depth and proven capacity in business.”
The group said it carried out an internal assessment on who among those being mentioned for the 2027 contest has the competence, integrity and political will to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people, insisting that its findings clearly favoured Gbagi.
“Our findings, based on empirical evidence, show that the person with the integrity, intellectual capacity and business acumen needed to deliver effective representation and real development to the people of Ughelli South is Chief Emuoboh Gbagi,” the statement added.
UUPRF further described him as a worthy son of the late businessman, political figure and former Minister of State, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, saying he has sustained and strengthened the family’s legacy through enterprise, innovation and leadership.
According to the forum, Gbagi has demonstrated, over time, the ability to build on existing business structures while expanding into new ventures, a quality it said would be critical in legislative representation and constituency development.
It stressed that electing him into the Delta State House of Assembly would place Ughelli South on the path of transformational progress.
“We are convinced that Ughelli South will be in safe hands if Chief Emuoboh Gbagi is elected to represent the area in the House of Assembly. He has what it takes, both mentally and physically, to provide purposeful representation that will improve the living conditions of our people,” the group stated.
The forum therefore urged the people of Ughelli South to unite behind Gbagi’s possible candidacy in 2027, saying such a move would mark the beginning of a new era of social, infrastructural and economic advancement in the area.
