…Seek NWC’s Intervention To Save Party From Implosion Following Cold War Between Uduaghan & Ibori Over Who Becomes Next Governor
BEVERLY HILLS, November 13, (THEWILL) – Fourteen (14) governorship aspirants in Delta State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have again issued another warning to Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, to stop manipulating the electoral process by using state machinery and resources to harass and intimidate politicians who have refused to support his preferred successor, Mr. Anthony Obuh, a relatively unknown and unpopular retired bureaucrat.
THEWILL gathered that the aspirants, who met at the Abuja residence of Chief E.K. Clark on Tuesday night and reconvened on Wednesday afternoon to approve a communiqué, expressed dismay at the governor’s antics, the political development in the state and brewing cold war between former Governor, Chief James Ibori and Uduaghan, who are both first cousins, over who emerges next governor, warning that the PDP could suffer at the polls if the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party does not intervene.
The communiqué signed by the aspirants namely; Former Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Ovie Omo-Agege; former Minister, Chief Kenneth Gbagi; former House of Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei; House of Representative member, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu; former Presidential Adviser, Prof. Sylvester Monye; former Principal Secretary to the President, Mr. David Edevbie, Serving Senator Ifeanyi Okowa; former House of Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. Sam Obi; former Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Esther Uduehi, former commissioner, Mr. Clement Ofuani, Mr. Johnson Opone, Mr. Gabriel Chukwuma Oyibode, Chief. Godwin Obielum, and Chief Peter Okocha, is reproduced below:
A COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE MEETING OF GOVERNORSHIP ASPIRANTS FROM DELTA STATE, HELD IN ASOKORO, ABUJA, ON TUESDAY, 11TH NOVEMBER 2014.
We, the undersigned governorship aspirants, having bought the Governorship Nomination and the Expression of Interest Forms of our great party, the PDP, and having followed the unfolding political developments in Delta State over the last two months, met at the home of our national leader, Chief E. K. Clark, CON, on Tuesday, 11th November, 2014, to review the state of affairs in our party in Delta State.
After extensive deliberations, we resolved as follows:
1. That we congratulate Mr. President for a successful declaration of his intention to seek re-election for a second term.
2. That the unfolding events in our great party, (the PDP) in Delta State, in the run-up to the 2015 elections are not satisfactory.
3. That we reject in its entirety, moves by the Governor of Delta State to single handedly pick his successor by manipulating the processes.
4. We further reject attempts by the Governor to use State machinery and resources to intimidate and harass public officials and political leaders who have refused to support his preferred candidate.
5. That we also reject moves by an out-going Governor to single handedly pick candidates for State and National Assemblies in Delta State.
6. That an out-going Governor who won his re-election with less than 10,000 votes cannot alone, deliver Delta State for Mr. President’s re-election bid without the support of all stakeholders in the party. In fact, PDP will loose Delta State because of the Governor’s conduct and behaviour, unless the National Working Committee intervenes urgently to arrest the drift in the party.
7. That the raging battle between Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and his cousin, Chief James Ibori for the control of the soul of our great party (PDP) in Delta State, is weakening our electoral chances.
8. That the affairs of our party, the PDP, in Delta State, must not be reduced to a family patrimony. Delta State is too big and critical a State for this to happen.
9. We therefore, call on the National Working Committee of our party to act decisively in order to avert serious electoral crisis.
