…. Insists on Sheriff at Delta State guber candidate
By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
The last is yet to be heard on the crises rocking the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a protest group under the aegis of ‘Concerned Deltans for Good Governance’ stormed the party’s national headquarters on Tuesday, and passed vote of confidence on party’s National Chairman Sen. Iyorchia Ayu.
The group further prevailed on the party to jettison the ruling a Federal High Court in Warri which nullified Sheriff Oborevwori as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2023 election.
Recall that the southern caucus of the party led by Governor Wike of Rivers state had insisted that the chairman must vacate his position for a southerner following the emergence of Atiku Abubakar a northerner as its Presidential candidate.
Also adding his voice, Chief Bode George who is the leader of the party in Lagos state stressed the need for the resignation of Ayu. He said the South West region should be given a sense of belonging as all the key positions in the party were being occupied by northerners.
The pro-Ayu protesters beseeched the national secretariat with placard carrying various inscriptions like: “Edevbie is an agent of destruction in PDP”; “Delta is 100% PDP, come 2023 Delta remains 100% PDP”; “Sheriff Candidacy is divine”; “Iyorchia Ayu has led us well” among others, prevailed on the party to ensure that Hon. Sheriff Oborevwor remains the authentic governorship candidate of the party.
Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court had earlier disqualified Sheriff as the dully elected governorship candidate for allegedly supplying false and forged documents to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and directed INEC and the PDP to recognize David Edevbie, as its candidate.
In a protest letter addressed to the party’s leadership, Andaye Dagidi, National Coordinator, Ijaw Mandate Group, eulogized the National Chairman for providing sound leadership in the party.
“The rebranded PDP under the current national chairman and viable NWC has ensured that the gale of defections into the party in different states, from the APC and other parties is overwhelming. Our party is now the party to beat in the forthcoming general election. The party is better primed right now to reclaim our lost mandate as the party in government once again in Nigeria and it takes sound progressive leadership to achieve this enviable height.
“The above are hallmarks of Dr Iyorchia Ayu’s proven astuteness and sound exemplary leadership of the party and therefore he and the NWC deserves commendation and not knocks and calls for his resignation over elementary matters by unenlightened self-styled aggrieved party members desperate for power to continue to cut our common patrimony” he said.
The group claimed that the PDP in Delta state is intact and ready to win the next governorship election. He said that the party’s leadership should not allow a mole to become its governorship candidate as it will take the state away from the progressive path.
“The PDP has outgrown this level of pettiness where a group of persons, not being properly enlightened about the party’s workings as to the rules and guidelines for the conduct of party primaries simply tag themselves as aggrieved for losing in a transparent delegates elections and will not rest until the party is pulled down to satisfy their whims and caprices.
“Although they managed to address the press in utter ignorance of the futility and worthlessness of their venture, bearing placards and banners with various inscriptions demanding that the name of David Edevbie be forwarded to INEC as the authentic Delta State PDP gubernatorial candidate for 2023 otherwise the National Chairman should resign, citing the July 7 Federal High Court judgment on this subject matter which is already on Appeal and stay of execution obtained and parties to the litigation served the relevant Appeal court processes.
“We totally reject and condemn in strong terms the action of these faceless paid mourners for David Edevbie as they do not represent the spirit and letters of the Delta State PDP” Dagidi stated.
Responding, the National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Hon. Debo Ologunagba assured the protesters that the PDP is a very large family and that the current leadership of the party will not do anything that will undermine the victory of the party come 2023.
“I have listened to you and I can see that Delta is united for PDP and that is very important for us, because we understand that the rescue mission led by our Chairman and that these is coming from the heart of PDP, Delta state.
“I must thank you for the confidence that you have expressed, the support for Dr Iyorchia Ayu led NWC consistent his mission to continue to be fair to all members of the party and all the decisions have been in accordance with the constitution. We are a law abiding party. We respect court order and we act on them and we want to reiterate that this party will remain so, running according to its constitution”.
He urged them to remain united so that they can celebrate the victory of PDP after the election.
