***PDP Accused Of Influencing APC National Officials

The All Progressive Congress (APC) ward congress held on Saturday, May 6, 2018 in Delta state but amidst confrontations, mudslinging and blame on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for infringing on the activities of the APC.

In parts of the state, the congress held peacefully while it became violent in other areas, leading to death of a party member.

At the state secretariat of the APC in Asaba problems of delay took the centre stage due to late arrival of delegates nomination forms and materials but some National officials in charge of the congress, were on hand to douse tensions arising from complaints of inadequate delegate forms.

A party official. Olorogun Jaro Egbo complained that the nomination forms for the delegates congress that were supposed to be distributed to delegates were issued to only one group.

Alhaji Sani Dododo, Chairman APC Delegates Congress for Ward and local governments in Delta state state said the issue is not peculiar to only Delta state, saying it happens when more people are vying for few positions but assured that the problems would be solved for the congress to commence.

The Congress in Ward 4, Onicha-Olona, Aniocha North Local Government Area was conducted free, fair and credible with an INEC Official on ground to observe.

Meanwhile, in Ughelli, gunmen suspected to be assassins killed an All Progresaives Congress, APC ward chairmanship candidate.
The victim, Jeremiah Ogboveta, was until his death, the chairmanship candidate for Jeremi Ward III in Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state.

Security sources in the area disclosed that the incident happened on Saturday morning.

Violence trailed the congresses as a chairmanship aspirant in Jeremi unit III, ward 10, Ughelli South of the state was stabbed to death.

While Olorogun O’tega Emerhor was at his Evwreni ward participating in the congress held Saturday, there were no proof that Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru participated

It could be recalled that Delta APC leader, Olorogun Emerhor had charged and instructed his followers, allies and all party faithfuls to participate in the congresses and eschew violence acts.

“We call on our teeming supporters and all party faithfuls to shun all acts capable of truncating the ongoing congresses even in the face of unwarranted provocations from various elements who are perfecting plans to destabilize the peaceful congress processes.”

However, the embattled senator representing Delta central senatorial district in the National Assembly, Honr. Ovie Omo-Agege , on Saturday allegedly shunned the All Progressives Congress (APC) ward congresses held across the state.

Also absent from the ward congress was the former 2015 Labour Party governorship candidate who is now a member of APC, Great Ogboru.

There were also reports of snatching and hijack of electoral materials in some wards in Delta central by persons suspected to be loyalists of Ogboru and Omo-Agege.

Delta APC chairman, Mr. Jones Erue, who is said to be a loyalist of both Ogboru and Omo-Agege, was alleged to have used thugs to hijack materials for the congresses in Delta central and other parts of the state.

At Abraka, home town of Ogboru, the congress did not take place, while at Orogun, home town of senator Omo-Agege, materials arrived safely.

At Ovu Ward 5, Salubi Primary School, Ethiope East local government area, congress was held while some persons were seen complaining bitterly of the result of the congress.

The leader of the ward and former labour leader, Frank Ovie Kokori described the congress as peaceful saying that the few persons seen complaining were those that lost out and that does not mean the ward is divided.

At Evwreni, home town of the leader of Delta APC, Olorogun O’tega, Emerhor, in Ughelli North local government council, the congress was peaceful.

Speaking shortly after casting his vote, Emerhor, described the exercise as generally peaceful, adding that the peaceful conduct would be replicated across the state:

“Here in my ward in Evwreni,you can see the ward congress is peaceful because we have a consensus and I expect every ward to do same either by consensus or voting for their choice candidate in areas were there are no consensus.”

He also commended party faithful for their display of maturity during the congress, despite attempts to disrupt it through stealing of the electoral materials.

“Though there was incident where some people wanted to frustrate the exercise where they broke into the hotel and stole some of the sensitive materials, but it was not enough to put off the congress.

Unfortunately, the materials had not moved at that time so those ones that had gone I am not sure they have been authenticated to separate them from those one that have been stolen. However, generally, the congress was peaceful,” Emehor said.

At Gbaramatu community, Warri South West local government area, an APC chieftain, Michael Johnny, also described the ward congress as peaceful in his area and thanked party members for their participation and good conduct during the exercise.

At Oshimili South, Aniocha South, Aniocha North, Ika South, Ika North East local government area, the congresses were conducted peacefully as at the time our correspondent visited the areas.

As at the time of filing in this report, it was learned that congresses were still going on at Bomadi and Burutu local government areas.

In another development, Delta state Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has been accused of allegedly infiltrating the APC as the party Chairman, Prophet Jones Erhue and Barrister Felix Morka are having an unholy romance with the PDP led government.

In the said meeting, the sum of one hundred million naira ( N100, 000 000) was allegedly disbursed by Gov. Okowa to Prophet Jones Erhue and Barrister Felix Morka to bribe the National Congress Committees headed by Alhaji Sani Dododo.

An APC chieftain who spoke on condition of anonymity alleged that “It is important to clearly state that the cooperation between a guber aspirant from Delta Central and the government of Senator Okowa has continued to blosom and it is also clear that the All Progressives Congress, APC, Delta State may not survive if this guber aspirant from Central is allowed the ticket of the All Progressives Congress, APC for next year’s election.

“We, therefore, call on and plead with all men of conscience to intervene and pray for the APC, Delta State as a stitch in time saves nine.”