Unverified reports have it that it has been a competition of dollars rain among deep pocket Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirants who are participating in the ongoing governorship primary election taking place in Asaba, the Delta State Capital now.
The New Diplomat learnt that the over 800 delegates who are to cast their votes for the aspirants had a sleepless night in their various hotels as desperate aspirants woo them with large sums of US Dollars as inducement for their votes.
Unconfirmed reports have it that the alleged dollar competition has been championed by a popular aspirant from Delta South who was said to have raised the stake from an initial 1,000 dollars to 7,000 dollars per delegate.
The report further stated that a frontline aspirant from Delta Central has raised the bar from his initial 1,500 dollars to be at par with the Delta South aspirant of 7,000 dollars per delegate, while a third deep pocket aspirant from Delta Central is sharing 5,000 dollars to each delegate.
The New Diplomat learnt that there are strong indications that the Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa who had consistently before now promised a level playing ground, is likely to spring a last-minute surprise to throw his weight behind a Delta South aspirant that has been speculated by many Deltans before now.
It is believed that unless there is a last-minute agreement among all aspirants from Delta Central to step down for one of them, there might be a sharp split of votes among them, a situation that might favour the few aspirants from the South.
Meanwhile, at the time of filing this report, accreditation of delegates at the State Event Center at Okpanam road in the State capital has been concluded and they are being conveyed in a bus to the Stephen Keshi Stadium along Nnebisi road to commence voting.
It was alleged yesterday that Governor Okowa, in order to get a firm grip on the delegates, stripped them of their phones and deployed security around their hotels to prevent being reached by aspirants. This has not been confirmed.
Attempts to speak with the party officials in charge of the organization and supervision of the exercise have been futile as none was prepared to speak to newsmen.
