By John Paul
Following the publication of Keeping Them Honest Daily’s special analysis, “Who Stays, Who Goes: Appraising Re-election Chances of Delta Senators,” the media office of Senator Ede Dafinone has released a detailed response outlining his achievements in office. The rejoinder addresses specific concerns raised in the analysis, particularly regarding legislative performance and constituency impact.
The analysis, written by Aghogho Orotomah, stated that “none of [Senator Dafinone’s] bills have been passed by the Senate,” and concluded that “Delta Central deserves a more proactive, strategically inclined, and smart senator heading into the 2027 elections.” In its rejoinder, Senator Dafinone’s office confirmed that while he has sponsored three bills, all remain at the First Reading stage and are still progressing through legislative procedures. This clarification confirms the accuracy of the analysis regarding the current status of his legislative output.
While acknowledging that his bills are yet to be passed, the Senator’s office emphasized that they are focused on national development and are receiving “due legislative attention.” The rejoinder also sought to highlight what it described as “strategic and impactful” interventions outside the legislative chamber, including economic empowerment, agricultural support, and infrastructure rehabilitation.
The Senator’s office pointed to empowerment schemes in which over 2,500 constituents reportedly received financial support. It also cited a conditional cash transfer program facilitated through the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, which provided N50,000 each to thousands of beneficiaries. However, the original analysis had referred to these programs as “tokenistic and lacking long-term value,” especially the POS machine distribution scheme, which was described by constituents as insufficient for deep economic impact.
In response to concerns raised in the analysis about lack of visibility and muted legislative presence, Senator Dafinone’s team referenced major interventions such as the full repair of the Gamon Bridge and ongoing efforts toward the revival of the Sapele Port, which is now captured in the 2025 federal budget. His office also listed ongoing constituency projects, including a railway station, hostel construction at FUPRE, ICT centre upgrades, and energy infrastructure across multiple LGAs.
The analysis had also questioned Dafinone’s political positioning within Delta Central, citing concerns over concentration of power in Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie federal constituency—where both the senator and the governor hail from. While the rejoinder did not directly address this political balancing issue, it emphasized the Senator’s commitment to equitable development across all eight local government areas of Delta Central.
Concluding, the rejoinder framed Senator Dafinone’s approach as one focused on “measurable results” and “inclusive governance.” Yet, as Keeping Them Honest Daily originally noted, unless there is a significant turnaround in legislative output, wider visibility, and grassroots engagement, the Senator may face insurmountable opposition heading into the 2027 elections.