By ABEL JOHNGOLD ORHERUATA
Ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries for the 2023 general elections, the Aniocha North Local Government Area (ANLG) of Delta State Chapter of the Party, have unanimously resolved not to adopt any gubernatorial or legislative aspirant, unless the leader of the Party in the State, Governor Ifeany Okowa gives a direction.
The PDP leaders/stakeholders in ANLG, who added that any leader /stakeholder doing otherwise, would be doing so on his or her own without their support, disclosed this in a 10-point communique raised and duly signed by 28 leaders including some aspirants after two enlarged stakeholders meetings held at the country home of Prof. Sylvester Monye, MFR, Senior Policy Adviser to Governor Okowa, in Onicha-Ugbo.
The communique disclosed that the PDP in Aniocha North retrospectively considered their past performances in primaries and general elections that were characterised by intrigues, group clashes, infighting, alleged rigging and near permanent enmity which had always resulted to low voters turnouts, as a concomitant effect of the apathy at polls, thereby performing poorly in overall elections in the State.
The communique, which was signed by, Prof. Sylvester Monye, Emma Bazim Chinye, Jaunty Okwudi, Dr Val Okafor, Barr. Callistus Nwawolo, Dan Okenyi, Engr. Modungwo Austine, Andy Offor, Dr. Michael Nwoko, Adam Anyasi, Barr. Tonnie Nwaokwu, Paul Nmah, Engr. Fidel Onwordi, Prince Uzoma Idaboh and others, rejected any consensus arrangement for the House of Assembly under any guise.
See Communique:
“The two editions of Aniocha-North PDP Leaders/Stakeholders meeting held at the country home of Professor Sylvester Monye, MFR, the Senior Policy Adviser to His Excellency, the Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa retrospectively considered our past performances in both primaries and general elections, characterized by intrigues, group clashes, in-fighting, alleged rigging and almost permanent enmity which have always resulted to low voters turn-out as a concomitant effect of apathy at the polls, thereby contributing very little to the overall fortunes of the party in Delta State.
“In the two meetings, which were also well attended by aspirants of mostly House of Assembly, unanimously resolved as follows:
That we shall not rush to adopt any gubernatorial aspirant, unless the leader of PDP in the State, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa gives us a direction. Any leader or stakeholder doing otherwise will be doing so on his or her own without our support.
2. That for House of Assembly primaries, we shall no longer accept any form of consensus arrangement under any guise.
3. That we shall no longer accept any form of manipulation, geared towards rigging.
4. That all aspirants who have purchased nomination and expression of interest forms from PDP shall be entitled to participate in the primaries.
5. That the primary election shall be free, fair and transparent.
6. That all aspirants shall undertake to support whoever emerges from the primaries.
7. That all aspirants shall continue to support PDP in all activities whether they lose or win.8. That leaders/stakeholders shall continue to support PDP by upholding her policies, guidelines, directives and the Constitution of the party.
9. That this communique shall be transmitted to the following:
i. The Governor of Delta State, Send. Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa.
ii. The Chairman, PDP, Delta State.
III. The Chairman, PDP, Delta North Senatorial District.
iv. The Chairman, PDP, Aniocha North LGA.
v. All PDP House of Assembly aspirants.
10. That this communique shall be endorsed to buttress its validity by the following Leaders and stakeholders, including aspirants for the State House of Assembly.
