Delta APC Chairman Accuses Ogboru Of Embezzling Over N2billion Election Funds
By Ovie Okpare
As the crisis in the Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) continues, the state chairman of the party, Prophet Jones Erue has accused the2019 governorship candidate of the party in the state, Chief Great Ogboru of allegedly embezzling election fund to the tune of over N2billion.
Erue also accused Ogboru of solely being responsible for the party’s abysmal performance in the 2019 governorship election in the state.
The party chairman made the allegation on made while addressing journalists at the State APC Secretariat in Asaba, the state capital, after the enlarged State Executive Committee of the party and swear-in of the new state secretary of the party, Alex Nwadiamu.
Erue also further alleged that Ogboru single handedly substituting candidates who were chosen during primaries with his cronies for elective positions during the 2019 elections.
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According to him, in spite of the huge funds received by Ogboru, the party struggled to win only two councils during the election.
The Delta APC chairman said, “We went into election and money came but we don’t know how much that came to the party.
“To make it official for the first time, three of us were asked to receive the money. Myself as the state chairman, the governorship candidate, Ogboru, and the then Senator, now Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege.
“I told them that I have a prophetic ministry, and I should not be part of it because at the end of the day, they will say I embezzled their money.
“So, I did not received the money, and Omo-Agege also said he will not be part of receiving the money, so only Ogboru went and signed for the money.
“I raised some funds through the then, former minister for petroleum (State) Dr. Ibe Kachikwu but only two local governments Ogboru could used these monies to win. I can’t remember the figure but is over N2 billion but speculation says is over N4 billion.”
Erue, while alleging further, noted that the party failed abysmally at the last election because of the impunity of the party leaders who removed the names of candidates in their hotel room.
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“Many factors were responsible for APC failure in elections in the state. Most of the candidates the party chose through real primaries were removed in hotel rooms. That’s why he (Ogboru) continue contesting election and turned it into business making venture.”
He also further disclosed that members of the five-man panel set up by the sacked State Secretary of the party, Mr Chidi Okonji had been suspended from the party.
According to him, the panel members were suspended from the party for their alleged anti-party activities and insubordination aimed at creating crisis in the state.
The governorship candidate of the APC in the 2019 election in Delta State, Chief Great Ogboru, has described the allegation by the state chairman of the party, Prophet Jones Erue as “a pathological liar.”
Ogboru denied embezzling the funds meant for the party’s campaign during the last governorship election in the state, adding that he would not join issues with a “pathological liar.”
“No election money was embezzled by me. If there’s money meant for election, it’s for election. I’m not answerable to Erue because it was not state party money. It’s my duty as the governorship candidate to disburse it and that was what I did.
On the fresh rocking the state chapter of the party, Ogboru blamed the current leadership crisis in the party on the embattled chairman saying that suspension of five LG party chairmen and some state working committee members as illegal.
“Erue is the one fueling crisis in the party. Between me, and the chairman who illegally suspended five APC council chairmen and his deputy and others, who is fueling crisis? He suspended them without following the due process. He won’t go with this. He’s leaving as chairman this time around.”
