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Tag: ‘Delta APC

  • Delta APC adopts direct primaries to pick candidates

    The State Working Committee (SWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta state has adopted direct primaries as the means through which all candidates for the 2019 elections will emerge.

    The party’s SWC, led by party chairman, Chief Cyril Ogodo, adopted the resolution on Thursday in Asaba, the state capital, during an expanded State Executive Committee meeting.

    The meeting, which was attended by members of the SWC, 25 LGA chairmen, secretaries, youth leaders and the about 270 ward chairmen, also commended President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as well as other members of the National Working Committee (NWC) for making the choice of the direct primaries.

    The party, in a communique issued and signed by the state party Chairman Chief Cyril Ogodo, Secretary Barr Silas Buowe, members of SWC and over 300 others resolved as followed:

    “Arising from an expanded State Executive Committee meeting of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) Delta State Chapter led by Chief Cyril Abeye Ogodo, held on the 6th day of September 2018, the following resolutions were reached.

    “To commend His Excellency, Comrade Adams Aliu Oshiomohle – National Chairman and members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of our great Party on their recent decision to entrench internal democracy in the Party through the approval for the use of direct primaries in choosing our flag bearers.

    Read Also: Group picks nomination form for ex-Oyo Governor, Akala

    “To commend the President and the Commander – in Chief – of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic – Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) for repositioning Nigeria to greatness. The Delta State APC is excited like many other Nigerians across the nation that Mr President’s leadership style has rekindled our hope in democracy.

    “That the Delta state APC hereby adopts and affirms the use of direct primaries for choosing all our flag bearers.

    “The above decision affirms our party’s disposition and desire to make our elections in 2019 and beyond truly reflect the will of the people as there cannot be democracy without the people’s participation”, the communiqué said

  • Can Delta APC dislodge PDP behemoth?

    With the 2019 Delta State Governorship Elections close, Senior Correspondent, Okungbowa Aiwerie, examines the issues, preparations and strategies by the APC in its bid to wrest power from the ruling PDP.

    AS the 2019 Delta State Governorship Election inches closer, preparations by All Progressive Congress (APC) gubernatorial aspirants for the 2019 Delta governorship election has picked feverish pace.

    Despite internal wrangling, the mood within the opposition APC in the state is buoyant and optimistic. This has led many APC aspirants to embark on statewide consultation visits to sell their candidacy to the electorate.

    The division between the factions in the opposition camp is premised essentially on the Emerhor/Enuha group promoting a candidate from Delta North to challenge Governor Okowa who hails from Delta North, to appease Delta North and Delta South voters due to an unwritten rotation pact foisted by the ruling PDP since 1999, but the Omo-Agege/Great Ogboru faction wants power returned to Delta Central having been out of power since 2007.

    Also the feud between Emerhor/Enuha and Omo Agege/Ogboru tendencies appear to be waning due to the decision by the Adams Oshiomhole-led national body to adopt direct primaries in electing aspirants for elective positions.

    With this realisation that only popular candidates can win direct primaries, renewed urgency has been injected into the Delta APC governorship race.

    To this end, both factions have intensified efforts to register as many members as possible in a bid to claim victory.

    APC party leader in Delta North, Hyacinth Enuha expressed optimism that the ongoing membership registration exercise will be used to conduct direct primaries in the APC governorship race for the 2019 General Election.

    According to him, the party opted for direct primaries to discourage financial inducement of delegates by wealthy politicians which usually characterise delegates’ primaries leading to the emergence of unpopular candidates.

    He said, “After the registration, permanent membership cards will be issued, which will be the voting cards for the direct primaries. There will be no more issues of locking delegates in hotel rooms, feeding them for three days and inducing them with lots of money to vote for a particular person.

    Continuing, “It will be difficult to bribe the entire members of the party at any level. So, an aspirant does not need to have so much millions to emerge as candidate. What needs to be done is for the aspirants to mobilise the grassroots and convince them to vote for him or her. The direct primary is a popularity contest because the people know who they want.”

    Although not many within the APC have made public their governorship ambition, front runners in the governorship race are wealthy businessman and politician, Chief Great Ogboru, Hon. Victor Ochei, ex-Speaker Delta Assembly, Dr. Cairo Ojuogboh, ex-federal lawmaker and ex- Deputy National Chairman of PDP.

    Others are Prof. Pat Utomi, Dr. Leroy Edozien and Chief Osiobe Okotie.

    Great Ogboru is a charismatic Urhobo politician, from Ethiope East L.G.A in Delta Central Senatorial District. He has statewide appeal having run for the office since 2003 against Chief James Ibori and his successor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, in a closely fought race.

    He has a strong cult like followership among the masses and is nicknamed the People’s General. Although Ogboru has participated in several elections, he has not managed to win any.

    Ogboru has a formidable political structure maintained over the past years. He is a grassroots politician.

    Delta Central Senatorial District, comprising mainly of the Urhobos in eight local government areas boast of a voting strength of over 870,000. But the PDP is also a strong party in Delta Central with many notable Urhobo politicians, including Chief James Ibori, Paulinus Akpeki, Ighoyota Amori and a host of others.

    Currently, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (APC) represents Delta Central in the NASS. Should Ogboru become the APC flag bearer, the zone will be a major battle ground in the governorship battle.

    Rating: Strong

    Some analyst believe his chances at the polls will be reduced due to the desire among Delta Northerners to complete its allotted two terms in view of the existing rotational power arrangement.

    A source within the Emerhor faction who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “If Ogboru from Delta Central contests and win the 2019 governorship seat, it will mean eight more years for Delta Central that have already done eight years under James Ibori (making a total of 16 years), thus leaving Delta North with just four years and jeopardizing Delta South’s wait-time calculation of 12 years. The sensitivity of voters from Delta North to this issue will only mean a loss to APC.”

    Former Delta Speaker, Victor Ochei, hails from Delta North Senatorial District. Ochei is a known political force with extensive political structure having contested for the 2015 Delta governorship ticket narrowly losing the ticket to Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa.

    Ochei, a three time legislator, is a successful businessman and a grassroots politician. Should he get the APC nomination, he has the capacity to split the votes of Delta North with a voting strength of over 650,000 and garner votes from both the central and south senatorial districts as demonstrated during the 2015 PDP governorship primaries.

    He poses a grave danger to the chances of the incumbent because he is from the same zone as the incumbent. His candidacy will vitiate the argument among Delta Northerners insisting on completing its allotted two terms. Rating: strong

    Dr. Cairo Ojuogboh is a kinsman of the incumbent governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa. He hails from Ika South in Delta North Senatorial District.

    Cairo served as a federal legislator, representing Ika South and Ika North East Constituency from 2003/2007 and he served as the Deputy National Chairman of the PDP under factional rule of Ali Modu Sheriff.

    He contested the Delta State 2007 gubernatorial elections and has a strong political structure that will serve him in good stead going into the party primaries.

    Of all the APC governorship aspirants, Dr. Ojuogboh has been the most visible. He is a strong candidate and a grassroots politician. He has a large followership across the state.

    He promised to serve only one term as governor should he get the APC nomination. Rating: strong

    Prof. Pat Utomi, a renowned economist, is another leading candidate. Utomi hails from Ibusa community, Oshimili North in Delta North.

    He is seen as a technocrat rather than a politician. He is seen as a neophyte in the politics of the state, but he has powerful backers within the APC at the national level. Whether this support from influential personalities within the party will translate to his clinching the ticket is another matter.

    His political structure is weak and non-existent.

    Rating Weak

    A major strategy being adopted by the Emerhor/Enuha tendencies in the APC fold is to present a candidate of Delta North extraction to compete with the incumbent Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa who hails from Delta North.

    A political analyst, Dr. Charles Edeogu, predicts a tough battle for the ruling PDP should the APC present a candidate from Delta North, adding that the permutations could be altered   should the opposition present a candidate from any other part of the state.

    According to him, “If the opposition presents a rugged, strong, time-tested candidate of Delta North extraction, the party will aim to divide the votes in Delta North with nine local government areas while fighting to split votes in Delta South and Central. But if a Delta Central candidate is presented by the APC, Okowa may play the ethnic card, mobilising Delta North with a voting strength of about 650,000 and aim to take a sizeable chunk of the 750,000 votes from Delta South from where his Deputy hails and with the influence of Ibori, split Delta Central with a voting population of about 870,000”.

    Another strategy that the APC may adopt is the insistence that any aspirant from Delta North will agree to commit to a single four year term, in order to maintain the power rotational arrangement in the state.

    APC chieftain, Chief Hyacinth Enuha, in an interview with The Nation said commitments have been secured from all aspirants of Delta North extraction to respect the power rotation agreement in existence, but will the zoning pact be respected if a Delta Northerner wins the governorship on the platform of the APC?

    Enuha said, “Everyone has given me their word that they will only do one term. So, no one will come and say he wants to do more than he is supposed to do. I have talked to the elders and stakeholders of the party and everyone has given me their commitments and I also have also put my integrity on line in this matter. I clearly have nothing to lose, but the incumbent will have all to lose, so you don’t fight with someone who has nothing to lose when you can lose everything”.

    The contest between the APC and the PDP for the 2019 Delta governorship appears evenly matched and too close to call, but the race promises a thrilling finish to the wire.

  • Delta APC: taking over state in 2019 is non-negotiable

    The Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said its quest to take over of the reins of governance in next year’s general election is non-negotiable.

    Its chairman, Chief Cyril Ogodo, spoke at the party’s maiden expanded State Executive Committee (SEC) meeting at APC secretariat in Asaba, the state capital.

    The chairman hailed party leaders and other faithful for standing firm during the challenges over its congresses.

    He said though there was a faction that conducted parallel congresses and claimed legitimacy through “a contentious court consent judgment”, the duly elected executive council, which was not party to nor consented to such judgment, could not be bound by it.

    Ogodo said what was uppermost for the party was how to dislodge the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration from the state in next year’s general elections.

    The chairman said the party’s State Executive Council (ESC) was poised to reconcile aggrieved members.

    “Delta State must be rescued in 2019. This is not negotiable,” he said.

    Also, the state’s party leader, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, congratulated Ogodo and other executive members for their successes at the congresses and swearing-in.

    The party leader noted that APC’s new National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, was misled by the Great Ogboru/Ovie Omo-Agege group to approve their alleged fraudulent consent judgment.

    He said: “Comrade Oshiomhole is a man of truth and integrity. Having now found out the truth about the fraudulent consent judgment, he will never support it.”

    Ogodo said the national chairman, as well as the Presidency, had mandated the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, to reconcile all party groups for unity and peace.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • 2019 polls: Will Delta apc get it right?

    The Delta State All Progressives Congress (APC) went to the party’s national convention in Abuja, the Federal State Capital Territory (FCT), as a divided house. The fracas between the two factions may be a signal to a fierce battle ahead of next year’s governorship election. Senior Correspondent OKUNGBOWA AIWERIE examines the protracted crisis and its implications for the troubled chapter.

    The violence that erupted at the pavillion of Delta State during the recent All Progressive Congress (APC) national convention in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has its roots in the vexed question of whether or not to zone its governorship ticket.

    This contentious  issue snowballed into the crisis that  has now  polarised party, resulting in the emergence of two factions fighting for control of the party structure, with the ultimate goal of producing the governorship flag-bearer next year.

    The battle for the control of the party is essentially between Olorogun O’tega Emerhor/Enuha and Senator Ovie Omo-Agege/Ogboru factions.

    Aligned to the Emerhor’s camp are ex-Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly and governorship aspirant, Hon Victor Ochei, Petroleum Minister (State) Dr. Ibe Kachukwu, Prof Pat Utomi, ex-member of the House of Representatives and governorship aspirant Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, Chief Hyacinth Enuha, Hon Doris Uboh, and others.

    In the opposing camp are Senator Ovie Omo-Agege , Chief Great Ogboru, factional chairman Jones Erue, Chief Frank Kokori, Mariam Alli, Ike Odikpo, Veronica Ogbuago and a host of others.

    While Jones Erue emerged from the congress organized by the Omo-Agege faction, Cyril Ogodo was elected from the congress conducted by the O’tega Emerhor faction.

    The crises started in March when at a meeting of Delta North APC chieftains, at the country home of  Kachukwu in Onicha-Ugbo ,Aniocha North L.G.A resolved  to ensure that a gubernatorial aspirant of Delta North extraction under the banner of the APC should complete the tenure of the incumbent PDP government.

    In its communiqué, the meeting urged all eligible aspirants from Delta North to make their ambitions known to the zone “at the earliest possible time” for the 2019 governorship elections.

    According to them, “ from the inception of the third Republic ,the Central and South Senatorial District of Delta State have successfully completed two gubernatorial terms and as a result the right of the Delta North senatorial district to complete its second term under the banner of the APC is only equitable”.

    It also resolved to “enlist the support of the other zones in Delta State to produce a saleable gubernatorial candidate of Delta North extraction”.

    But, it appears the Delta North is unable to enlist the support of Delta Central to produce “a saleable candidate of Delta North extraction” as the proposal met stiff opposition from some of its leading light in Delta Central.

    The official position of the then Delta APC leadership is that it does not recognize zoning of elective offices and that it has stated it in no uncertain terms.

    Reacting to media reports that the party had zoned the position to Delta North, its erstwhile State chairman Mr. Jones Erue, debunked such insinuations.

    He said “We hereby make it categorically clear that our party has not zoned the governorship ticket to any zone, and has no intention to do so…..we are totally committed to and will strictly follow our party’s constitution in the choice of all candidates.”

    According to him, the party was averse to zoning of any elective position, stressing that zoning breaches the party’s constitution.

    But, with the leader of the party from Delta Central and former governorship candidate in 2015, O’tega Emerhor, foreclosing his governorship ambition during a consultative visit by Prof Pat Utomi, at his country home in Evwreni, Delta State, he appeared to have given a tacit support to aspirants from Delta North.

    He said: “As an individual, I have decided along with committed APC leaders who really want change in Delta State that we will not do things the same way again this time because the opposition in Delta has not had this type of opportunity that is available to us today. You will recall that in 2015, I ran for the governorship position of Delta State, and still have the capacity to do that now. But I took a decision not to run because the environment supports a different formula that excludes me, and that is why I am not out there consulting like others.”

    APC leaders in Delta South have also thrown their weight behind the plot to cede the slot to candidates of Delta North extraction, but with a caveat.

    At its meeting on March 4 convened by its chairman, Yemi Omaghomi, it  agreed to support Delta North governorship candidacy, with the proviso that such a candidate will “do one term in line with extant power rotation in the State and allow the zone complete its eight year tenure.”

    According to the communiqué, “The Delta South APC notes that the request of Delta North APC is fair, just and equitable  as it guarantees all ethnic groups ,particularly the minority ethnic groups ,in our dear State fair access to the governorship seat of the State”.

    It appears the battle is between forces that want power in 2019 and those who want to await the 2023 elections, when it will be the “rightful turn” of the Delta Central zone.

    Delta State, under the ruling PDP in the last 20 years, perpetuated a zoning formula that guarantees political access, and two terms to each of the three senatorial districts.

    A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed that the resistance of the Omo-Agege/ Ogboru faction to a Delta North candidacy is based on the fact that, in 2023 should the APC win the governorship, the one term proposal will not be respected by the incumbent.

    His words: “The major reason Ogboru is fighting for this position now is that should an APC governor of Delta Northern extraction win in 2019, what are the guarantees that he will do a single term like it is being bandied about? If he reneges, it means Delta Central will be out of power for about sixteen years. Do not forget the Urhobos have a numerical advantage in the State”.

    APC chieftain, who also pleaded anonymity, accused Emerhor of pursuing his personal agenda.

    He said: “Olorogun Emerhor is championing the cause of a Delta North candidate because he has reached agreement with some elements within the party for a Delta North governor that will do a single term, so he will be a major beneficiary in 2023 when it is the Urhobo turn to produce the governor going by the zoning formula among the ethnic groups.”

    Although, Ogboru has not publicly declared his intention to run, sources  confirmed that he is interested in picking the ticket on the platform of the APC and he will push his candidacy vigorously.

    The fracas at the APC national convention is indicative of the fact that the contest will be a keenly fought battle.

    But, it is clear that the incoming national party executive led by the former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole, has its work cut out for him.

    The optimism of factional chairman, Erue, is instructive. He said: “I have come to realize that when siblings are quarelling it their parents that call for a truce because the children will not agree to call themselves to order because there is already a divide, so in this case when the new executive at the national level comes on board everything will be resolved. Already a resolution is in sight. You know water finds its level. For me, no victor, no vanquished, they are our brothers. Sometimes you can think wrongly, what you think is what you are .It does not make us remove you entirely as being wrong. When we get to that bridge we shall cross it”.

    The pertinent question is will Adams Oshiomhole succeed at its task of reuniting its members in good time before the general elections?

     

  • Delta APC protests to Oshiomhole over consent judgment to sack SEC

    The Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has protested to the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, over the consent judgment obtained by a faction loyal to Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege and Great Ogboru to sack the State Executive Committee (SEC).

    It said Chief Cyril Ogodo-led executive in Delta State that was duly elected and inaugurated by the erstwhile National Working Committee of ex-National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

    The party executive said it was never a party to the matter and by law was not bound by the outcome of the said consent judgment.

    It urged Oshiomhole and the new NWC not to recognize and install a faction which emerged from a parallel congress of the APC.

    It advised all APC members to stay calm, steadfast and to go about their party businesses without let or hindrance.

    The APC  in Delta State made its position known in a statement in Abuja by its State Publicity Secretary, Moses Kamanya.

    The statement said: “It has come to our notice that on June 28, 2018 a consent judgment in respect of a suit filed by Odjebobo Desire Onoyefeme and Lyndon L.O.I Ugbome against the APC National Chairman and the APC National Working Committee with Suit No.: FHC/ABJ/CS/509/8 was secured by the Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and Chief Great Ogboru led group of APC members in Delta State.

    “The purport of the consent judgment is to accord legitimacy to the wards and LGA executives elected at the parallel congresses conducted by the Agege/Ogboru group which were earlier adjudged illegal by the HE Chief John Oyegun-led NWC which actually conducted, supervised and approved the outcome of the recently conducted congresses of the APC nationwide.

    “The attempt to procure this consent judgment came to our notice and that of the APC NWC on June 12, 2018.

    “The then NWC found that officers of the Legal Department in the APC without its knowledge, directive, consent and approval acted in connivance with its appointed legal counsel to draw up terms of settlement proposed by the plaintiffs that were acting on behalf of the Agege/Ogboru group.

    “The NWC immediately debriefed the counsel and appointed a new one Messrs Chief J. K. Gadzama SAN in his place, with the instruction to terminate the process of the consent judgment and purported terms of settlement as they were not authorised nor did they emanate from the NWC.”

    The APC leadership said since the former NWC had gone to court to disown any purported terms of settlement by party leaders in the state.

    The statement added: “The NWC had earlier approved all congresses conducted according to its guidelines and had inaugurated congresses won by the Chief Cyril Abeye Ogodo- led executive in Delta State and had rejected the executive that emerged from the Agege/Ogboru conducted parallel congresses. On June 22, 2018, the then National Chairman personally attended court to disown the so-called terms of settlement that purportedly emanated from him and the NWC.

    “It has, however, come to our knowledge that among the very first actions taken by the new National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomole, was to withdraw the Messrs Chief J. K. Gadzama who had the brief of the erstwhile NWC to terminate the purported consent judgment process and appoint a new counsel Messrs Adeniyi Michael Akintola SAN presumably with the instruction to pursue and secure the erstwhile unauthorized consent judgment in order to award through court the ward and LGA executives to the Agege/Ogboru group. We find this action of the new chairman totally inexplicable.

    “We the Chief Cyril Ogodo-led executive in Delta State that was duly elected and inaugurated by the erstwhile NWC was never party to the above suit and by law was not bound by the outcome of the said consent judgment nor can our positions be taken away or de-legitimized by a court consent judgment entered into by two parties without our knowledge, directive, consent or approval.

    “Nonetheless, we have written a protest letter to the National Chairman and copied to all current NWC members pointing out this aberration and requesting them to step away from entrenching a party faction in Delta State.”

    While calling for calm in the Delta APC, it vowed to take legal actions to vacate the consent judgment.

    It said: “We are also taking all legal actions to vacate the consent judgment on the basis of it being procured through misrepresentation as the erstwhile NWC that conducted the referenced congresses never consented or approved any such terms of settlement.

    “The State Chairman and State Working Committee in Delta State hereby call on all party members to stay calm, steadfast and go about their party businesses without let or hindrance. The party executive will continue to function and carry on the business of APC in Delta State.

    “We assure all party faithful that this distortion will not last and shall be dislodged in the shortest possible time and that our mission to rescue Delta State from the stranglehold of the PDP remains unshaken.”

  • Delta apc women leader lauds Buhari over June 12

    The  Delta State All Progressives Congress (APC) Women Leader , Dr. Janet Oyubu, has lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for declaring June 12  as  Democracy Day and signing into law the not-too-young to run bill .

    She said the President’s action has shown him as someone passionate about the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria.

    Oyubu, in a statement yesterday in Warri, said the APC faithful would redouble their efforts for the progress of the party.

    She described Buhari as the only medicine that can cure the ills plaguing the country.

    Her words: “I know that with time and as we go through the narrow path, Nigerians will get to know that Mr. President is God-sent and that he meant very well for the country.”

    She praised Buhari for  the posthumous award given to the late Chief M.K.O Abiola as well as the award given to  Ambassador Babagana Kingibe and the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi.

    Dr. Oyubu urged Buhari to consider awards for Comrade Frank Ovie Kokori and others who fought for the good of Nigeria.

    Her words: “I am also congratulating Mr. President because he means well for the sustenance of our democracy and the cohesion of brother hood and sister hood of this nation. He is out for the sustenance of peace and tranquility but it is a pity that some Nigerians don’t understand him.”

     

  • Delta APC salutes President

    DELTA State All Progressive Congress (APC) has hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for the conferment of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) on the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief Moshood Abiola.

    The party, in a statement by its state Publicity Secretary, Mr. Moses Kamanya, thanked Buhari for the landmark decision of honouring Abiola and other heroes of democracy as well as for giving them their right places in history.

    He added that the President awards to Abiola’s running mate, Babagana Kingibe, and the late human rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, showed that the President recognised the sacrifices of these leaders to the attainment of the present democracy.

    The party noted that, “the posthumous award bestowed on Chief Abiola and others by the President has set the nation on path of justice and truth because democracy has been given its right footing”.

    “The President declaration of June 12 as the new Democracy Day is a great moment for Nigerians; this decision has corrected the wrong of the past.

    “President Buhari has shown once again by this proclamation that he is a democrat and a believer of justice and truth, this will further bound us together as a nation and heal the wounds created as a result of the annulment,” the statement said.

  • Delta APC changes strategy as Emerhor jettisons governorship ambition 

    As part of steps to win Delta State, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in 2015 Olorogun O’tega Emerhor has jettisoned his ambition for a credible candidate  from Delta North.

    Emerhor has conveyed his decision to opt out of the race to the presidency and stakeholders of APC at the national level.

    It was learnt that Emerhor’s choice was part of the ongoing review of strategies on how President Muhammadu Buhari can win appreciable votes in the Southsouth, including Delta State.

    There were indications that the APC leadership might take a decision soon on the alleged parallel congress in the state.

    The source said the Peoples Democratic Party( PDP) and the state governor are becoming jittery because APC is looking at Delta North for its candidate.

    A top source said: “APC is reviewing its strategy in the Southsouth including Delta State. We do not want to repeat the same mistakes of 2015.

    “As for Delta State, we are taking the governorship  battle to the doorsteps of Governor  Ifeanyi Okowa. Our candidate in 2015, Emerhor, has decided not to contest the 2019 governorship election, but to allow the party to produce the governorship candidate from Delta North Senatorial District where Okowa hails from.

    “ Emerhor has given up his ambition because he said he does not want to disrupt the natural flow and that he is ready to wait till 2023. He has sacrificed his ambition in the interest of the party so that the APC can win the state in 2019.

    “To defeat Okowa in 2019, the APC believes it must take the battle to him in his backyard because of the unwritten policy of rotation existing in the state.

    “As you are aware, Delta Central and Delta South have both governed the state for eight years each. Delta North is just concluding four years and should be allowed to do the remaining four years.

    “But those who are conducting parallel congresses believe that the governorship ticket must come from Delta Central and that the Great Ogboru must be the party flag bearer. That is playing into the hands of Okowa.”

    The source said further that: “The governorship ticket in 2019 is what is behind all these issues of parallel congresses in Delta APC.

    “Beyond that, it is suspected that some elements in the Peoples Democratic Party( PDP) in Delta  State are also behind what is happening to APC in the state. Their fear is that a stronger APC will dislodge PDP and Okowa.”

    Responding to a question, the top source added: “By our calculations, the odds favour the Northern district. Delta North has nine local governments, while the rest two districts have eight each.

    “If we don’t pick our governorship candidate in 2019 from Delta North and we shift to Delta Central or Delta South, we will give Okowa the sentiment to gather the whole of Delta North together and say they want to take what belong to them. We cannot afford to  lose nine local governments.

    “After consolidating in Delta North, Okowa would only need four local governments to win re-election.

    “We have array of qualified persons from there. We have a choice and we believe that is the only way we can win by bringing the fight to Okowa in his own backyard.”

    The party claimed  those who defected to APC from the Labour Party were behind the parallel congresses in Delta APC.

    “The scenario is this. Emerhor contested in 2015, while Ogboru contested under the Labour Party and later joined the APC after the election. There was no name they did not call APC leaders  then while harassing them.

    “But they defected with a determination that Ogboru will be governor and so, when they came in, they refused to integrate with the rest of the party and kept to themselves. They even gave themselves a name called the Light of APC.”

     

    “So, they have been carrying along like that from the first day they came into the party.In view of this, they are playing into Okowa’s hands.

     

  • Delta APC: Torn apart by congress

    The Delta State All Progressives Congress (APC) has conducted parallel congresses which have escalated its crisis. Correspondent POLYCARP OROSEVWOTU examines the implications of the polarisation.

    Despite the conclusion of congresses by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, the fate of the party still hangs in the balance. There is no clear winner in the battle for the soul of the party. Also, there is no clear direction towards next year’s general elections.

    Two state executive committees have emerged. Prophet Jones Ode Erue, was re-elected for a second term at a congress supervised by Senator Olugbenga Obadara. His deputy, Chief Cyril Ogodo, emerged two days later at another congress organised by Eugene Odoh.

    Erue has the backing of Ovie Omo-Agege, the senator representing Delta Central at the National Assembly and Chief Great Ogboru, who has consistently contested governorship elections in the state since 2003. He had come second in those elections amidst allegations of massive rigging by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Ogodo is being supported by Olorogun Otega Emerhor, the 2015 governorship candidate of the party who came third during the election and Chief Hycinth Enuha, a chieftain of APC.  Ogboru, is seeking the APC ticket, while Emerhor has ruled himself outis not re-contesting. “The environment and projection of us winning this time, does not allow me to contest in 2019.”, Emerhor said.

    Origin of the party’s crisis:

    As the 2015 candidate of the party, Emerhor held sway as leader, controlling the party structure, from ward executive to the State Working Committee, as well as enjoying the full support of the Erue-led executive. Despite the resistance by the late Senator Spanner Okpozo and Chief Adolor Okotie-Eboh-led factions of the party, Emerhor’s leadership was never in doubt.

    That was the case, until the influx of new members, following the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari during the 2015 general elections. The alleged threat to Emerhor’s grip on the party started with the entrance of Chief Great Ogboru, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Victor Ochei into the party in 2016. At that time, there was a State High Court ruling dissolving the Erue-led Exco, which political observers saw as a great opportunity to properly integrate the new entrants into the party by setting up a Caretaker Committee to midwife an all inclusive executive for the party. Emerhor and Erue resisted that move and with the backing of the national chairman of the party, Chief John Oyegun, they both prevailed until the judgment was upturned by the Court of Appeal.

    With the new ruling, all parties accepted the Erue-led Exco as peace returned to the party. But, unity continued to elude the party as various groups emerged within the party with the birth of Mainstream Delta APC (MDA), Light of Delta APC (LDA) and Consolidated Delta APC, which were convened by Emerhor, Ogboru and Enuha until they were all dissolved in February, following the intervention of former Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

    The cracks in the party have become so deep that they could not be wished away by fiat and as the at the struggle for the control of the party ahead of the 2019 elections rages on, there were significant realignments.

    Emerhor lost the majority support in State Working Committee. The State Chairman, Prophet Jones Erue, and nine other key members of the 16-man State Working Committee, including the Secretary and Organising Secretary, dumped Emerhor and pitched tent with Ogboru and Omo-Agege. Enuha and some some members of CDA joined Emerhor, while Dr Veronica Ogbuagu, Dr. Alex Ideh and Chief Lucky Jerry Esigie joined the Ogboru camp. The realignment of forces became what was described as tendencies by Emerhor.

    Divided by congress:

    The congress to elect new leaders was seen by political observers as an opportunity to unite the party, but that was not to be. The major players thought otherwise. To them, it was an opportunity to show strength and “demonstrate who is stronger or more on ground”. This has now led to the emergence of parallel executives with political foes betraying one another, amid 2015 calculations. They are planning to seize the party structure, ahead of primaries and next year’s general elections.

    Two incidences caused the emergence of parallel congresses. First was the theft of 100 out of the 270 result sheets and the entire summary of results sheets for the ward congress, which according to Erue, “were stolen or criminally removed from official custody by unknown persons”.

    The second was the insistence of Alhaji Sani Dododo to report to the State Chairman as directed by the the National Working Committee and work with the Local Organising Committee appointed by the party under the leadership of Erue. This led to a split in the Delta State Ward and Local Government Congress Committee, with Alhaji Usman Kutigi, the Secretary and Mallam Kassim Mahmud, a member choosing to work with Emerhor. And Dododo was removed. The same scenario played out with the State Congress Committee when Senator Obadara was purported to have been removed.

    Police indicts congress committee secretary

    Having discovered that 100 result sheets for the ward congress were missing a day before the congress, Dododo and Kutugi reported the matter to the police. On return from the field on Congress day, Dododo discovered that the Secretary, Kutugi, had disappeared with the entire summary of results for wards. After its investigation, the police indicted Kutugi and Mahmud of complicity in compromising the outcome of the congress.

    The report, which was signed by the state commissioner of police, Muhammed Mustafa, described them as “fugitives from justice,” adding: “A case of conspiracy and stealing of the congress sensitive materials has been established against them and we are searching for the principal suspects in order to bring them all to book”.

    “So, the police, DSS and Dododo, after consulting with the National decided that since only 100 out of the 270 were stolen, let them make photocopy of the original to make the 270 result sheets. Dododo had to sign the photocopies with the consent of the National. With this they went to the field on congress day. It was when they returned to enter the results into the summary of result sheets that the chairman discovered that the secretary has disappeared with the summary of result sheets.  Subsequent investigation by the police tracked them to Port Harcourt”, Erue further explained, adding that it was at this point that the chairman, DSS and police decided to announce the results.”

    Results of Ward Congress

    On Monday May 7, Dododo announced at the party headquarters in Asaba, the state capital, that Ward Congress has been concluded and that the results with him were the valid results. Dododo urged Deltans and party faithful to disregard any other result announced elsewhere as they were null and void. “No other result will be accepted outside what we have here,” he said.

    Two days later, it was announced that Dododo has been replaced by the National Chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun. In a letter to the Delta Police boss, the National Secretary of the party, Mai Malu Buni, informed the police that chairman of the ward and local council congress committee, Dododo, has been removed and replaced by Chief Emmanuel Chindah, alleged to be a close ally to the Minister of Transport, Chibuke Amaechi. Meanwhile, Kutigi also submitted a different set of results, which he cosigned with Mahmud, the two men who have been indicted by the police for trying to manipulate the Ward Congress.

    Despite the rumour of his purported sack Oyegun did not tell him he has been sacked. As a consequence, he returned to Delta State to conduct the Local Government Congress on the 12th of May and again submitted his report to the national secretariat in Abuja on the 14th.  Emmanuel Chindah also submitted another set of Local Government results to the Appeal Panel in Asaba.

    The same scenario played out in the State Congress, with Senator Obadara, who was appointed by the NWC, but was also removed by Oyegun, amidst disagreements on who to report to in Delta. The secretary of the committee Olayinka Rickets and Dr. Omirin Adewale, a member, were removed too for allegedly wanting to work with Senator Obadara and were replaced by Eugene Odoh as chairman, John Clark Dabwan, secretary and Chief Jonathan Jibrin as member.

    Emergence of factional State Exco

    On May 19, a letter signed by the APC National Secretary, Hon. Mai Mala Buni dated 18th May 2018 was released informing INEC that the conduct of State Congress in Delta State has been rescheduled for Monday, 21st May 2018.  Curiously, unlike a similar letter notifying INEC of the venues of local government congress which had the receipt stamp of INEC, this one had no such acknowledgement receipt.

    Nevertheless, the Senator Obadara led-committee, which was appointed by the NWC, was in Delta to conduct the State Congress. At the Congress which held at St. Mulumba Secondary School, Okpanam, Asaba,  Erue was re-elected for another four years. Others elected included; Mr Elvis Ayemanor, Deputy Chairman and Mr. Chidi Okonji as state Secretary.

    The Congress was attended by APC Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, Chief Great Ogboru, Mrs. Marian Ali, Chief Frank Kokori, Lauretta Onochie, the Special Adviser on Social Media to President Muhammad Buhari, Dr. Alex Ideh, Chief Lucky Jerry Esigie and a host of other party chieftains across the three senatorial districts. Shortly after the exercise, Omo-Agege said the Obadara-led committee was empowered to conduct the congress and that there was no counter directive to that effect.

    “Any other committee outside the Senator Obadara committee is null and void, and their action is of no consequences. I applaud the delegates for making a wise decision in electing the executives and congratulate the new state executive”, he said.

    Also applauding the conduct of the congress, Special Assistant to the President on Social Media Lauretta Onochie described the exercise as ‘done and dusted’. “We refused to be intimidated by one man whose oxygen is impunity and who sought to change the date, venue and the set rules for a lawful congress. We refused to work with rumours generated by those who want to run the APC by the impunity they have learned over the years”, Onochie said.

    As Obadara was submitting his report and results at the National Headquarters of APC in Abuja on Monday, another Congress was taking place at the old site of the Federal Technical College, Asaba, amidst tight security. Ogodo emerged as chairman at the congress organised by Odoh. Emerhor said: “We have gone ahead to obey the NWC, which postponed the congress. At the end of this exercise, the appeal committee will review what has been done before the results would be taken to Abuja for certification”.

    Unity list and cracks in Emerhor camp:

    Prior to the congress, the Emerhor camp had seven governorship candidates: Prof. Pat Utomi, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, Victor Ochei, Prof. Leroy Edozien, Chief Osiobe Okotie, Dr. Iyke Odikpo and Dr. O’Diakpor Obire. They agreed to a unity list for the congress that will accommodate the interest of aspirants and leaders of the party.

    However, with the failure of the list to equitably protect the interest of everyone, three of the aspirants, Utomi, Odikpo and Okotie, sboycotted the congress while Ojougboh walked out of the event midway. Odikpo who was the Secretary General and Chief Strategist of the Emerhor’s defunct Mainstream Delta APC (MDA), had  attended the congress held two days earlier having pitched his tent with the Omo-Agege/Ogboru camp.

    The Oyegun, Amaechi, Oshiomhole factor:

    The shadows of these three have hovered over the congresses in Delta, following the failed re-election bid of the embattled national chairman  Oyegun, who was being supported by Emerhor and Ogodo. When APC chairmen of the South-South states endorsed Oshiomhole as chairmanship candidate Ogodo signed the statement dissociating Delta APC from the purported endorsement, which he described as “desperate and despicable”.

    Not only did Emerhor condemn the endorsement of Oshiomole by the South South APC, he refuted the statement, saying: “At no time was Oshiomhole adopted as the candidate of South-South. Chief John Odigie is a worthy son of the zone who has performed creditably and who deserves a first right of refusal.” Ogboru, Omo-Agege and Erue on the other hand, supported the Oshiomhole candidacy. Indeed, Erue, under pressure from Emerhor, refused to disassociate Delta from the Southsouth endorsement of Oshiomole.

    Based on these realities, it is not surprising that at any point Emerhor was facing any form of political challenges during the congresses; Oyegun comes to his rescue as reflected in the sacking of Dododo, and Obadara.  The fingerprints of Amaechi, a known benefactor of Emerhor, was everywhere in Delta APC congresses. One of his loyalist, Chindah, was appointed to take over from Dododo.

    Allegations of bias:

    Erue said Obadara was sacked by Oyegun because he refused to follow Izunaso’s counter directive that Delta State Congress Committee should work with Emerhor, instead of the State chairman as earlier directed by Izunaso. Under article 13 of the APC Constitution, it is the NWC that is empowered to set up adhoc committees to conduct congresses. Pursuant to this article, the NWC constituted the Obadara panel.

    Erue said: “Having constituted the panel, the NWC proceeded to inaugurate and empower it with materials to conduct the congress in Delta. And since then, the NWC has not met to recall the Obadara panel. Yet, the National Secretary wrote a letter purported to sack the chairman, the secretary and one member.

    The National chairman and the secretary do not constitute the NWC which is made up of 21 members. It was only either the chairman or the secretary or both of them acting at the behest of O’tega Emerhor that purported to recall the Obadara panel and they cannot do that”, Erue said.  “NWC created the Obadara panel and it is only the NWC that can recall them. The same applies to the Dododo ward and local government congress committee”, he added. According to Erue, Obadara was not properly removed and anything that was done in Asaba on Monday 21st May by Eugene Odoh was a mere gathering the defunct MDA.

    “During briefing, the panels to all the states were told to report to the state chairmen who will make available to you the list of delegates, accommodation and transportation. But, in the case of Delta, Senator Obadara was later told by the National Organizing Secretary to take the delegate list from O’tega Emerhor and the Distinguished Senator said I cant do that because that was not the briefing you gave to us. Immediately they knew that the man refused to take the list from them being a process man, they called them back and had to step down Delta congress which is unconstitutional”, he added.

    Also questioning the authority of the National Organising Secretary to write a letter of appointment to Chindah and Odoh, Erue said: “If at all the letter is truly signed by the national secretary, with all due respect to him, I think he is doing a job for someone else and not for the party because what is playing out in Delta is a game and a backdoor script that is backfiring. He added: “I do not know who appointed Chindah because NWC did not meet to appoint him. When Dododo was appointed, did National secretary sign a letter to that effect? Why did he not write a letter in the first instance, this is the question that must be asked. There is a foul play as someone is being paid the work he is doing.”

    There is a raging battle for the soul of the APC in Delta State. It could undermine the ability of the party to take over the state in 2019. How this will end remains to be seen. Ultimately, it will depend on the ward congress that gave birth to the two parallel executives. Will the national leadership of the APC accept the results collated at the police command in the presence of the Nigerian Police, the DSS and INEC by Alhaji Dododo, the NWC appointed chairman or the results collated at yet to be disclosed location by the secretary of the committee, Kutigi who has been declared wanted by the police.

    In the opinion of Dr. Alex Ideh, an APC chieftain, the Dododo organized LGA congress is the legal one that will be upheld by the party because it is built on a legal foundation. “It is a common knowledge that the congresses are pyramidal in nature. The election of the ward delegates followed due process and there was no successful appeal against it. And because we successfully built the foundation of the pyramid and added to that superstructure by electing LGA executive, State delegates and national delegates in all 25 LGAs of Delta State, our congress is legal” he explained.

    Also, the APC national leadership would have to consider the electoral worth of both camps. Ogboru came second, ahead of Emerhor, in the 2015 governorship poll as he has done consistently since 2003. Ogboru won four local government areas, including Ughelli North, which is  Emerhor’s Local Government Area. Omo-Agege who is from the same local government with Emerhor and he is the incumbent senator representing Delta Central, the stronghold of APC. With the APC national convention shifted to 23rd of June, the battle for the soul of Delta APC rages on. And the road to Unity House Asaba promises to be a rocky ride.

  • Furore over parallel congresses in Delta APC

    The crisis rocking the Delta State All Progressives Congress (APC) has escalated, following the parallel congresses held by the two groups struggling for the soul of the party. Correspondent OKUNGBOWA AIWERIE examines the logjam and its effects on the troubled chapter.

    All is not well with the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State. Following the emergence of parallel executive council members at the ward local government  and state levels, the party crisis has escalated. Two factions are fighting for the soul of the party.

    The dramatis personae in the first camp are Minister of State for Petroleum Dr. Ibe Kachukwu ,  ex-governorship candidate and leader of the party Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, Chief Hyacinth Enuha, ex-Speaker Victor Ochei, Dr. Cairo Ojugbouh, and Cyril Ogodo.

    Others are Prof Pat Utomi, Dr. Leroy and Dr. Charles Nwandiani.

    In the second camp are Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, Chief Frank Kokori, Chief Great Ogboru, Helen Uboh, Mrs. Mariam Alli, and Mr. Jones Erue

    The crux of the matter is the struggle for the control of party structure, following the inability of the dramatis personae to reach an agreement.

    The crisis that have bedeviled the Delta APC congress started at the ward  and local government levels when some party chieftains alleged that the chairman of the Ward and Local Government Congress Committee Sani Dododo, had violated the guidelines, thereby compromising the entire process.

    The national leadership of the party sacked the controversial chairman.

    Dododo allegedly connived with some interests in the party to hijack the process and unilaterally announced doctored results for  the ward congresses, without the imput or knowledge of the six  members of his committee.

    The national leadership of the party replaced Dododo with a new committee chairman, Hon Emmanuel Chindah, who supervised the subsequent exercise.

    Following the sack of Dododo as chairman of the committee by the National Working Committee (NWC), the stage was set for further crisis, which led to parallel congresses.

    Matters came to a head during the congress when a faction, led by senator Ovie Omo-Agege, despite a court order restraining them from conducting the state congress, went ahead to return the incumbent chairman Mr. Jones Erue.

    The congress, which held at St. Muluamba Secondary School, Okpanam, Asaba was conducted by the Senator Olugbenga Obadara led committee.

    The National Working Committee of the party appointed the committee to conduct the congress.

    The congress, which was conducted by voice affirmation, led to the return of Jones Erue unopposed. Others elected officers include: Mr Elvis Ayemanor, Deputy Chairman, Mr Chidi Okonji as state Secretary.

    The congress was attended by APC Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, Chief Great Ogboru, Mrs. Marian Ali, and Chief Frank Kokori among other party chieftains.

    While addressing reporters,  shortly after the exercise, Omo-Agege said the Obadara-led committee was empowered to conduct the congress and that there was no counter-directive to that effect.

    Omo-Agege said any other committee outside the Senator Obadara committee was null and void, and their action was of no consequences.

    But, in the parallel state congress led by Emerhor, ex- Deputy Chairman of the Delta State APC, Mr. Cyril Ogodo, emerged as state chairman.

    The congress held at the play- ground of the temporary site of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba, was peaceful.

    Ogodor polled 731 votes to defeat Mr. Fred Obe, who polled 99 votes in the delegates’ election.

    The other positions were returned unopposed through voice affirmation.

    The congress was conducted by a five-member committee from the national secretariat of the party. Members of the committee include Eugene Odoh (chairman), John Dabwan (secretary), Jonathan Jibril, Ibrahim Nagogo and Mezia Linus (members).

    Ogodo extended an olive branch to his opponents and the faction led by Omo-Agege, saying that now was the time to unite the party ahead of the next year’s general elections.

    The leader of the party Emerhor, who addressed reporters at the end of the exercise described it as the authentic congress, saying that the presence of party chieftains testified to it.

    His words: ”I am here, Victor Ochei, Cairo Ojougboh, Hyacinth Enuha, Pat Utomi is on his way, Dr. Leroy, we are here. The minister, Dr. Ibe Kachukwu would have been here but he travelled”.

    “We cannot afford the bickering and division among ourselves. After today’s congress, we will reach out to others who feel aggrieved because we have the People Democratic Party (PDP) as a common enemy in the 2019 general elections to contend with.

    “But, one thing is that anything outside this exercise is null and void. You can see the democratic process as conducted by the assigned committee from Abuja and witnessed by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).”

    It is yet unclear whether the contending party men will sheathe their swords in the overall interest of the party as the 2019 governorship election draws near.