Prominent Urhobo Leaders have called on Chief Ede Dafinone to contest the Delta Central senatorial bye-election in a bid to make a formidable replacement as a result of the vacuum created by the unfortunate and sudden demise of Senator Akpor Pius Ewherido, whom they said represented the people effectively at the National Assembly.

The leaders, mainly politicians, professionals and businessmen, met in Abuja on Wednesday, July 2013, where they described the death of Senator Pius Ewherido as shocking.

The leaders who said the late senator made his family, the Urhobo nation, Delta State and the country proud, promised to begin house to house mobilization for the actualization of the objective.

“Chief Ede Dafinone is devoutly religious, faithfully discharging his duties to his family, to the senatorial district, to Delta State and to the nation. He has the knowledge and the skills to succeed in the senate”, the leaders said in a statement issued after the meeting.

In a statement signed by the Chairman of Urhobo Politicians, Businessmen and Professional Forum, Chief Abel Minna and made available to Blank NEWS Online, also commended Dafinone for his contributions to the development of human resources in Urhobo land, particularly the hundreds of women trained in hair dressing and fashion designing, tailoring, catering, welding, aluminum works, electrical and computer skills.

They hailed him for training Urhobo sons and daughters in local and foreign universities as well as transforming the lives of the women in the senatorial area.

“Dafinone deserves the biggest thanks for developing the people,” the statement said.

Praising Dafinone for his altruistic and philanthropic disposition, the leaders said: “We are very impressed about his people- oriented programmes in Urhobo land. It is time for indigenes and non-indigenes in Delta Central to unite and support a person who can effectively represent them, enhance unity and provide opportunities for all.”

“We want him to contest the senatorial election because of his proven leadership qualities and our belief that he can represent the area very well in the senate” the statement affirmed.

Recall that Ede Dafinone, a founding member of the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) in Delta State had contested for Senate (Delta Central) in 2006 under the mandate of change and development, owing to his grassroots mobilisation status with representation in the eight local governments