15/04/2026
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐: ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐โ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
As the political climate in Delta State intensifies ahead of the 2026 general elections, the Warri Federal Constituency has become a theater of intrigue and a political Chessboard known only to very few persons. Hon. Thomas Ereyitomi, the incumbent House of Representatives member, a Chief of the Warri Kingdom, is seeking a third term amidst the fact that he has performed below the minimum expectations of his constituents, and his maneuvers reveal a calculated game of survival and dominance. The unfolding drama involves party alignments, promises to allies, and the influence of powerful figures, making Warri one of the constituencies to watch in this election season.
๐๐ฎ๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ง๐๐
Ereyitomiโs political play hinges on a dual-party approach. While contesting under the All Progressive Congress (APC), he has strategically positioned Esimaje Awani as the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Findings show that Ereyitomi is not only a card-carrying member of the ADC but also its sole financier in Delta State, giving him sweeping control over the partyโs structure. This ensures that no other aspirant secures the ADC ticket. Beyond Delta, he is a major Financier of the party nationally because he sees the ADC as a place of refuge should he not be treated nicely in the APC
The arrangement is simple but effective: should he fail to clinch the APC nomination, Awani is expected to step aside, clearing the path for Ereyitomi to run under the ADC platform. Adding weight to this alliance is the role of High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo. A close friend of Ereyitomi and a mentor figure to Esimaje Awani, Tompolo is said to be playing a major role in ensuring that Awani holds the ADC ticket as a placeholder for Ereyitomi. This triangular relationship strengthens the incumbentโs grip on both parties and highlights the depth of his political network.
๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐ฌ
Beyond party maneuvering, Ereyitomi has reportedly promised both Esimaje Awani and the sitting Local Government Chairman, Weyimi Agbateyiniro, popularly called Agbas the same political basket of fish: a pathway to the House of Representatives come 2031. These promises, made individually, have kept both men working for his interests, unaware that they were ensnared by identical assurances.
This duplicity underscores the depth of his political calculationsโusing promises as tools to consolidate loyalty while keeping potential rivals in check. Both Awani and Agbas, believing they have unique assurances of succession, are effectively trapped in his orbit, strengthening his immediate campaign while deferring their ambitions to a distant future.
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ง๐จ๐ซโ๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
A critical factor shaping the contest is the position of the current Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori. Sources suggest that the governor is not favorably disposed to Ereyitomiโs return to the National Assembly. This disposition is significant because gubernatorial influence in Delta politics often extends beyond the executive office, shaping party structures, candidate endorsements, and grassroots mobilization.
Without the governorโs backing, Ereyitomi faces an uphill battle within the APC, where internal alignments are frequently influenced by the stateโs political leadership. The governorโs stance also signals to other stakeholders that Ereyitomiโs candidacy may not enjoy the full weight of state machinery, thereby emboldening rivals and complicating his path to nomination. It is within this context that his dual-party strategy becomes not just tactical but essential, a safeguard against the possibility of being edged out within the APC.
๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐ข๐จ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ 2026
Fractured Alliances
One of the most volatile scenarios is the possibility of fractured alliances. If either Esimaje Awani or Weyimi Agbateyiniro (Agbas) realizes that they have been promised the same basket of fish, resentment could build. Awani, who has been positioned as the ADC candidate, may feel betrayed if he perceives his role as nothing more than a placeholder. Similarly, Agbas, as the sitting LGA chairman, may see his loyalty as exploited rather than rewarded.
Should either man break ranks, the fallout could be significant. Awani could refuse to step down from the ADC ticket, creating a direct clash with Ereyitomi. Agbas, with his influence at the grassroots level, could withdraw support or even align with rival factions, weakening Ereyitomiโs base. Such fractures would not only undermine his carefully constructed dual-party strategy but also expose him to internal rebellion, leaving him vulnerable in both APC and ADC.
๐๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ง๐จ๐ซโ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐๐ข๐๐ฌ
Another scenario is the intensification of Governor Oborevworiโs influence. If the governor actively throws his weight behind an alternative candidate, people say he may throw his weight behind the 2023 APC candidate, Dr Ekpoto Ekpoto Emmanuel, who is also in the race, Ereyitomiโs chances within the APC could diminish sharply. The governorโs machinery, spanning party structures, grassroots mobilization, and financial resources, could tilt the balance against the incumbent.
In such a case, Ereyitomi would be forced to rely entirely on the ADC platform. While his control of the ADC gives him a fallback, contesting under a smaller party without state backing would present formidable challenges. Voter confidence could waver, as constituents often view gubernatorial endorsement as a signal of legitimacy. Moreover, rivals emboldened by the governorโs support could mount stronger campaigns, further complicating his path to victory.
๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง
Whichever scenario plays out, one thing is clear: the Warri federal constituency is set to witness a high-stakes contest defined by strategy, promises, and power plays. Ereyitomiโs dual-party maneuvering, his promises to Awani and Agbas, and the involvement of Tompolo all point to a complex web of alliances designed to secure his political survival in the face of gross non acceptance by constituents. Yet the governorโs disposition and the risk of fractured alliances introduce uncertainties that could reshape the race.
For constituents, the coming days, weeks and maybe months will reveal whether Ereyitomiโs calculated chess game secures him a third term in National Assembly or whether the very strategies he has deployed become the traps that undo his ambitions. Time shall tell and as for me and my political family, we de shine our eyes with a full bucket of popcorn de watch the film.
