The nationwide State Congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held across the country on Saturday October 16, 2021 has produced new officers for the Delta State chapter of the party to the discomfort of a faction of the party in the State.
The officers were elected unopposed by affirmation of the accredited delegates from the 25 local government areas in a peaceful and rancour free atmosphere which began at 11:50am through voice votes.
One-time Delta State Commissioner for Environment, Engr Omeni Sobotie was elected as State Chairman of the party at the Congress which was held at the Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba.
Also elected at the congress which was conducted by the Congress committee headed by Senator Ajibola Bashiru, observed by officials of the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC were; Chief Paulinus Akpeki as Chairman of the party in Delta Central, Ogbueshi Adizue Eluaka, Chairman, Delta North, Mr Austin Orighoye, Chairman, Delta South, Mr Nick Ovuakporie, State Secretary, Mr Valentine Onojegho, State Publicity Secretary and 30 others.
Addressing delegates, Bashiru said though the offices were unopposed, paragraph six of the guidelines for the congress provided that there should be affirmative voting, adding that the peaceful conduct of the exercise potends victory for the party in the state in the forthcoming 2023 elections.
Present at the congress were the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, Olorogun O’Tega Emerhor, Chief Frank Ovie Kokori, Revd Francis Waive representing Udu/Ughelli constituency at the House of Representatives, among others.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after the congress, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, said: “the Congress is very peaceful; members conducted themselves in a very good manner”, saying that; ” the new executive will embark on reconciliation exercise with a view to placating all agrieved members”.
Omo-Agege expressed optimism that the party would secure victory in the 2023 elections, congratulating all those elected as State officials of the party in the state.
The newly elected State Chairman of the party, Engr Omeni Sobotie, thanked the party and the delegates for giving him the opportunity to serve.
Sobotie assured that he would not betray the confidence reposed on him, assuring that the party was set for victory in the 2023 general electons in Delta.
However, the Congress did not go down well, as the Leaders’ Council of a faction of the party in the State has charged their followers to remain focused and steadfast in the face of any provocation.
The council in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, also assured members of the APC in Delta that they would be redeemed and rescued from the hands of those who want to trade with the party’s future.
The statement was jointly signed by Mr Festus Keyamo, Chairman of the council and Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Dr Alex Ideh its Co-Chairman, and Dr Cairo Ojougboh, Secretary of the council.
Others are Chief Great Ogboru, 2019 Delta APC Governorship Candidate, Victor Ochei, former Speaker, Delta House of Assembly, Dr Mariam Ali, and George Timinimi,Leader Ijaw Nation and 12 others.
“We enjoin all APC faithful across Delta to remain focused and steadfast.
“We assure them that the party will be redeemed and rescued from the hands of those who want to trade what we all suffered to build for their selfish ends.
“The leaders and executives of the party in Delta would be calling general meetings of all APC faithful across the three Senatorial Districts of the state to reassure you that we are ready to take over Delta from PDP come 2023,” it said.
The council, however, said it was not part of the party’s State Congresses, saying it was a sham that should not be recognised or accepted.
“We are calling on the national leadership of the party to cancel and declare that sham they call congress, null and void.
“We stand on the initial position of the party, and present the original concensus Ward to State Executive list as directed by the leadership of the party.
“This was put together by the leaders and stakeholders of the party from across all tendencies and factions within the party here in Delta.
“We would not recognise any other executive other than the consensus executives put together by the leaders and stakeholders, which have been affirmed as the Wards, Local Government Areas and State Executives by all APC faithful across the state,” it said.
It explained that along with majority of the State Executive Committee members, a resolution was reached on consensus executive list from Wards, Local Government Areas and the state executives.
It added that the agreement was executed in line with the APC National Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) directives.
It said the concensus list was put together and presented to the party as agreed and should be honoured.
Recall that the leadership of the CECPC inaugurated the Chief John Odigie-Oyegun South-South Reconciliation Committee to reconcile all aggrieved parties within the South-South States, which included Delta.
The committee met severally and proffered solutions to the leadership crisis in Delta APC, by setting up a Delta Leaders’ Council comprising of 12 members, with four from each Senatorial District of the state.