By Eseoghene Emuke
A Peoples Democratic Party’s pressure group with members drawn from the three senatorial districts of Delta State, Delta Collective Assembly (DCA), has called for the sustenance of the existing governorship rotation among the senatorial district in the state on the platform of the PDP.
The group stressed that the unwritten rotational formula has been responsible for the enduring peace and unity among the different senatorial districts in the state.
In a communiqué issued at the end of an inaugural meeting of the group in Ughelli, it said the three senatorial districts – Delta Central, Delta South and Delta North – having enjoyed the rotational formula in the interest of equity and justice, it is only wise and just for the system to continue in its “clockwise direction” in the 2023 governorship election in the state.
The communique signed on behalf of leaders and members of the group by Hon. (Dr.) Joseph Orogun (Delta South), Hon. (Chief) Vincent Otidi (Delta Central) and Chief Alfred Onyenwosa (Delta North) specifically called on the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to sustain the system in the interest of the party.
It stated that members of the group at the inaugural meeting extensively discussed the 2023 governorship election and the benefits of the rotational formula to the growth and peace of the state.
According to it, “After an exhaustive deliberation and empirical analysis on the above issue, the following findings were realized: That the PDP family in Delta State has deliberately practiced zoning and rotation of the office of governorship in a clockwise manner from one senatorial district to another since 1999.
“That the practice of zoning and rotation of this governorship has continued to promote peace, fairness, unity and a sense of belonging among the three senatorial districts in Delta State.
“That the practice of this clockwise rotation has facilitated and or eased the victories of the PDP in ALL governorship elections from 1999 – 2019 in Delta State.
“The record shows 1999 – 2007 Delta Central Senatorial District H.E. Chief Janies Onanefe Ibori 2007 2015 Delta South Senatorial District H.E. Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan 2015 – 2023 Delta North Senatorial District H.E. Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa.
“That the PDP family recognized the principle of rotation of elective offices in its constitution which states under Article 7(3) of the PDP Constitution as Amended 2017 among others.”
The communique revealed that at the end of hours of extensive deliberation and debate, members of the group called on the leadership of the PDP in the state to ensure that the “Clockwise Governorship Rotation” system be maintained in Delta.
“Based on the foregoing findings, we hereby unanimously agreed on the well-considered following resolutions:
“That the existing clockwise rotation of the office of governor of Delta State for PDP among the three Senatorial Districts is not negotiable and therefore be sustained.
“That we are committed to promote and spread the existing clockwise rotation of the office of governor of Delta State for PDP among the three Senatorial Districts to all stakeholders.
“We are poised to give wide publicity to the existing clockwise rotation of the office of governor of Delta State for PDP among the three Senatorial Districts”, the group resolved.
