Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, on Saturday, emerged the Delta Man-of-the-year 2024, according to a survey by The NEHEMS-CAPOIN, an independent, non-governmental organisation.
The award was conferred on him at a ceremony tagged, “The Media Unveiling for Delta Man of the Year 2024 Award”, organised in Asaba.
The governor defeated Sen. Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District, and Chief Government Ekpemuokolo (Tompolo) of Tantita Securities and handler of Federal Government Oil and Gas Facilities Security Surveillance Contract
The poll showed that Oborevwori garnered 349 votes from physical voting and 10 from online.
The lawmaker, who emerged second, polled 172 physical votes with 157 online, totalling 329 votes.
Tompolo polled 164 votes, comprising 148 physical and 16 online to come third.
The Executive Director of The NEHEMS-CAPOIN, Mr Victor Sorokwu, said the exercise was “devoid of politics and bias but in pursuit of people-minded leadership and good governance”.
According to him, the nominees were selected from the three senatorial districts of the state through random sampling.
Sorokwu said that Oborevwori was chosen from Delta Central, while Nwoko and Tompolo were chosen from Delta North and Delta South, respectively.
He said, “The NEHEMS-CAPOIN is in pursuit of people-minded leadership and good governance.
“We feel a sense of civic responsibility to our society, particularly in a democratic setting that our leaders should feel and have the public perception of their service delivery.
“One of our initiatives is organising public opinion poll, both physically and online, to determine how our leaders are leading us.”
He also said that the poll was not an election “but a test on how the people perceived their leaders and to provide a feedback for the leaders to understand how they have faired”.
He said that field officers were sent to informed environments in Abraka (Delta Central), Ozoro (Delta South), and Asaba (Delta North) to conduct the physical polls.
“The physical and online votings were carried out in four weeks, which ended at 11.59 p.m. on Friday,” Sorokwu said.
Announcing the results, he said, “We are here for the Media Unveiling of the Delta Man of the Year 2024 Award.
“Painstakingly, we have ensured that we establish credibility, fairness and integrity in the process.
“From the physical and online polls, Chief Government Ekpemuokolo, polled 164 votes, Nwoko garnered 329 votes, and Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori polled 359 votes.
“By reason of this result, Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori is hereby unveiled as the Delta Man-of-the-Year 2024,” Sorokwu said.
He further said that the three nominees polled a cumulative 852 votes of the 900 expected physical and limitless online votes during the exercise.