APC Ward Congress: Chairmanship Aspirant Stabbed To Death In Delta

A chairmanship aspirant of All Progressive Congress, APC in Jeremi unit III, ward 10, Ughelli South Council Area of Delta state was stabbed to death during the Saturday ward Congress in the state.

BigPen Online learnt that the deceased, identified as Jeremiah Ogioveta was stabbed to death by assailant suspected to be aggrieved party member in the area.

It was learnt that the deceased was killed after violence broke out during the ward Congress in the area.

The deceased was killed prior to the arrival of electoral materials and after members of the party had reached agreement on how the exercise should be organized.

“Oghoveta, who is in his late 30s, was stabbed on the neck near God’s Grace Ministry at Okwagbe Town, even before the arrival of electoral material, our source said.

But the ward congress was held peacefully at Ovu Ward 5, Salubi Primary School, Ethiope East local government area.

APC leader of the area 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.

Also one of the front line APC Governorship aspirant in the state, Comrade Sunny Ofehe, commended party faithfuls for the peaceful and successful conduct of the Ward Congresses, across the state.

Ofehe who spoke in Iyede Ward II, Isoko North Council Area during the party’s Congress, said that the manners the Congress have been held shown APC was ready for change in Delta state.

“I’m very impress with the level of awareness and the huge turn out for the ward Congress despite the initial challenges we experience in my ward.

“Besides the delay in the arrival of INEC supervisor for the Congress, it was a hitch free and the people have decided those to lead them at the ward level of our party.

“With what I have seen today, the large turn out, the acceptance of the various candidates and the mobilization by our people, I can assure you that if we continued like this we will give PDP a good run for their money”, Ofehe 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.

Meanwhile, the State APC leader, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, while speaking to journalist on his assessment of the conduct of the Ward Congress in Delta, after voting at his Evwreni ward 8, described the exercise as generally peaceful.

“I must say that because of the timing of delivery of materials, and the short time for aspirants to obtain and fill their forms even as at today people were still collecting nomination forms to fill.

“Another challenge was to get people who will conduct the election, because they want to satisfy all stakeholders to avoid allegation that some people have hijacked the process, this took time also. So, the reason from what I understand that cause us to experience delay in the start up of the elections.

“There also an incident I understand that, some people wants to frustrate the exercise broke into the hotel and stole some sensitive materials, but their action was not enough to put a stop to the election, fortunately the materials has not left, so those they stole, was thanking note of, in order to citify them.

“We understand that it was result sheets that were stolen; you know politicians are always in the habits of stealing result, but that is under check.

On the uproar over the choice of centers for the conduct of the congress, Emerhor explained that competing interest in the party were giving conflicting directive, but the party election guideline stated that the congress committee should decide the venue, and the first option is party secretariat at the Ward, unless where it’s not conducive, stakeholders will agree on venue.

Emerhor added; “I voted at the party secretariat in my Ward, at Evwreni, Ughelli North and it was very peaceful and orderly. Considering the information we are getting from other state, I think we are doing very in Delta state, but like I said, the election is still ongoing.

State chairman of the APC, Prophet Jones Ode Erue who confirmed the killing, however alleged that about 100 (out of 270) Ward Result Sheets meant for today’s Ward Congresses in the state were hijacked or stolen from officials by unknown persons.

Erue, in a statement reacting to the exercise, described the alleged hijack of materials as a serious crime against the Party which must be condemn.

He call on security agents to conduct “proper investigation and maximum punishment for whoever dared to attempt to desecrate our Party, no matter how low or highly placed they may be”.

The party chairman urged faithfuls to remain calm while they try to sort out the issues.

He however urged the Congress Organising Committee to act in the best interest of the party and remain independent in its onerous duties and decision-making.

“Nothing, not even this criminal act, can stop us in Delta, he said.

He also confirmed the killing of a chairmanship aspirant in  Ughelli South saying, ” I do not have details on this matter yet and therefore not appropriate to give detail on it.

“Suffice to say that it is important and necessary for the Police to immediately step into the matter. Nobody has the right to extra judicially take the life of another, he added.

Reports however say materials were hijacked by faction of embattled senator representing Delta central senatorial district in the National Assembly, Mr. Ovie Omo-Agege, APC Governorship aspirant, Chief Great Ogboru who coincidentally are enjoying backing of the State chairman of the party.

Sources said that although Omo-Agege and Ogboru were conspicuously absent in their various wards in Orogun and Abraka respectively for the Congress, their footsoldiers allegedly hijacked the materials prior to the conduct of the election.

BigPen Online recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari had directed party leaders to go to the various Wards to fully participant in the election of new leaders of the party at their area but Ogboru and the suspended senator failed to show up at the congress in the wards.

Editor’s note: This report was reedited to reflect that the deceased was stabbed and not killed by gunmen and by a party member and not unknown assailant as earlier reported

Story by Julius Eras-Olabowu