Crisis brews in Delta PDP over new party Chairman’s selection

 

There were indications on Tuesday that the Peoples Democratic Party in Delta may soon be embroiled in another crisis over the selection of the new chairman of the party, Mr Edwin Uzor.

Governor of the state, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan and the immediate past chairman of the party, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi were said to have unilaterally appointed the new party chairman without following due process as set out in the party’s constitution.

Nwaoboshi recently resigned to contest for the Delta North senatorial position, likely to be vacated by the current occupant, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, who has made public his intention to vie for the governorship position in next year’s polls.

Although, Uzor is said to be occupying the chairmanship post in acting capacity, it was gathered that stakeholders were not duly consulted before the decision was taken by Uduaghan and Nwaoboshi.

Already, elder Statesman and Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, has vowed to fight against the alleged imposition of the party chair, who is said to be a stooge to Nwaoboshi.

Speaking in his Kiagbodo country home, Clark flayed what he described as the ‘impunity’ of former Chairman of PDP in his state.

According to Clark whose political relationship with the duo of Uduaghan and Nwaoboshi has been ‘off and on’, the state is currently in a depressed state because of the impositions done in 2006 by Chief James Ibori, former governor of the state, who is currently serving a jail term in a London prison.

“I want to say so many things have been happening in this State as if we do not exist, as a people, as party men. The second thing that happened recently was when a group of people sat down in Asaba to appoint a successor to the State Chairman.

“This is contrary to section 45 subsections 1 to 4 which says that when a Chairman resigns, he hands over to the Deputy and the Deputy will now call a meeting and then they will elect a new person from the Zone. That was not done,’’ Clark said.

The octogenarian added: Because Nwaoboshi wanted somebody to pocket, and Uzor (acting Chairman) has been his boy. PDP is not a family party, so we are going to oppose that one. It will not happen! The law must be followed. Otherwise there is no need for a constitution!

“If you can do whatever you like without the constitution, you will be faulted. The implication is far and wide…anybody who has to be attested to or whose candidature has to be stamped by the State Executive … If this issue is not corrected, your opponent will go to court! That the Executive that supported you or attested to you is illegal! So we are going to press for the correction”, Clark declared.

It was gathered that the subtle threat by the aged politician may have unsettled those who made the decision, who are already making overtures to him.

Clark is also said to be opposed to the planned imposition of Tony Obuh, as the next governor of the state in 2015, citing likely repercussions.

However, Clark’s opponents point to the recent imposition of his son, Ebikeme, as the local government chairman of Burutu despite protests from several groups.

    Some youths from Patani Local Government Area of Delta State had also threatened to destroy a vital bridge at Patani, linking Delta State and Bayelsa State, to protest the imposition by Clark, of one Mrs. Josephine Abeki, who was last Saturday returned unopposed as the council chairperson.

The aftermath of the local government election where some candidates were asked to step down for others less than 48 hours to the election is also causing ripples within the PDP as they have already taken the party to court.

The Nigerian Times