Utomi, Ogboru’s Supporters Disagree Amid Adoption Of Indirect Primaries By Erue-led SWC

Supporters of governorship aspirants under the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Delta State, Chief Great Ogboru, Prof Pat Utomi have disagreed over the adoption of indirect primaries adopted by the Prophet Jones Erue led State Executive Committee of the APC.

The adoption of indirect primaries has deepened the leadership crisis rocking the party as another faction of the party led by Chief Cyril Abeye Ogodo, had earlier adopted direct primaries after a stakeholders meeting held on the 6th of September 2018, at Asaba.

At the SWC meeting where the contention resolution was taken, Prof. Pat Utomi, a governorship aspirant on the party platform and others leaders on Friday, walked out in protest, contending that the development was tailored to favour one aspirant against the others.

Prof. Pat Utomi who was said to have spoken in favour of direct primaries was quickly overwhelmed by Chief Great Ogboru and Senator Ovie Omo-Agege supporters who populate the state SEC.

It learnt that irked by the development which was degenerating to a shouting match by Ogboru and Utomi’s supporters, Prof Utomi stormed out of the meeting saying; “those who claim to be very popular should come and test their popularity with the party members through direct primaries and not through handpicked delegate elections.”

Meanwhile, recalls that the Chief Cyril Abeye Ogodo led SWC had earlier adopted direct primaries in the conduct of all party primaries to elect it candidates ahead of 2019 general elections.

The party reached the decision at the expanded factional State Executive Committee meeting of the APC in State.

The meeting which was attended by members of the APC SWC, 25 LGA, Chairmen, secretary and youth leaders and the about 270 wards chairmen resolved to adopt direct primaries to give all aspirants level playing ground.

In a communiqué issued and signed by the state party Chairman Chief Cyril Ogodo, Secretary Barr Silas Buowe, members of SWC and over 300 others resolved as followed:

“Arising from an expanded State Executive Committee meeting of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) Delta State Chapter led by Chief Cyril Abeye Ogodo, held on the 6th day of September 2018, the following resolutions were reached.

“That the Delta State APC hereby adopts and affirms the use of direct primaries for choosing all our Flag Bearers.

“The above decision affirms our Party’s disposition and desire to make our elections in 2019 and beyond truly reflect the will of the people as there cannot be democracy without the people’s participation.”

But Prophet Jones Ode Erue and Comrade Chidi Okonji, in their respective capacities as the State Chairman and State Secretary of Delta State APC, after the meeting in a statement said:

“The indirect primaries system is a necessity in Delta State due to some unique conditions. First is the absence of up to date registers that is trusted by majority of our stakeholders for the purpose of credible direct primaries. SEC agrees with our leaders and stakeholders that in the manifest absence of up to date, clean or credible registers, the system of indirect primaries is necessary.

Indeed, SEC agrees with our party’s leaders and stakeholders that we do not have the luxury of time to collate and clean up our ongoing massive membership registrations before the primaries. It is our reasoned position that we must avoid any self-inflicted chaos that may likely arise from excluding so many newly registered members because of the obvious lack of sufficient time to collate and clean up the ongoing registrations.”

The press statement notes that, “Significantly, SEC is very disturbed about intelligence reports from Stakeholders that strange elements may be infiltrating our current membership registration with ulterior motives to taint the credibility of possible direct primaries by all means, including deadly security breaches that may harm our members and our positive electoral chances.

These reports remind us of how persons with similar ulterior motives invaded our elective Ward and Local Government congresses in May this year, killed our Comrade Jeremiah Oghoveta in Ughelli South and grievously harmed so many of our leaders and members.”

The party also said that its adoption of indirect primaries is to “deny the desires and designs many of private individuals who, pretending to be officials of the Delta APC, engaged in unauthorized and fraudulent membership registrations.”