*Caucus Okays Participation In Delta Council Poll
By Ovie Okpare
The crisis rocking the Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is far from being over as prominent leaders of the party were on Tuesday conspicuously absent at the state caucus meeting of the party held at the home of the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.
Among top leaders of the party absent at the meeting included the immediate past governor of the state, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan; the state founding leader, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor; Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr Festus Keyamo and its 2019 governorship candidate, Chief Great Ogboru.
Delta APC has been embroiled in crisis prior to the 2019 general elections which produced Senator Omo-Agege as the new leader of the ruling party in the South-South geopolitical zone.
The State chairman of the party, Prophet Jones Erue, had summoned a meeting of leaders of the party at the Abuja home of the Deputy Senate President among other things to look into recent developments in the party including the forthcoming council election in the state.
NIGER DELTA TODAY (NDT) Online reliably learnt that leaders of the party from the camps of Uduaghan, Emerhor, Keyamo, Ogboru, former Delta House of Assembly Speaker, Engr. Victor Ochie; Chief Ayiri Emami, APC Acting National Woman Leader, Mrs Stella Okotete, the embattled NDDC Director of Projects, Chief Cairo Ojougboh; former Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachukwu; former Managing Director of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and Prof Pat Utomi were among those absent at the meeting.
It was, however, not clear why Stella Okotete, also an Executive Director, Business Development of NEXIM Bank and loyalist of Deputy Senate President was absent at the meeting.
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However, the meeting was attended by the South-South APC leader and Deputy Senate President, Senator Omo-Agege; member representing Ughelli South, Ughelli North and Udu Federal Constituency, Rev. Francis Waive; state party chairman, Prophet Erue and a host of other chieftains loyal to Omo-Agege faction of the party.
Some leaders of the party who were absent at the meeting told our correspondent that they were absent because they were not carried along before the meeting was summoned by the state working committee of the party.
It was gathered that some of the leaders had advised the State Working Committee to postpone the meeting until a reconciliatory meeting to among the leaders were held and all outstanding issues were resolved before calling for a state caucus meeting.
It was further gathered that the advice as jettison by the Prophet Erue-led committee on the suggestion of leaders from Omo-Agege’s camp.
They also expressed displeasure with the venue of the meeting as they were yet to resolve personal crisis with Senator Omo-Agege who they accused of seizing the structure of the party as he was alleged to have fought for the reemergence of Prophet Erue as state chairman.
It was learnt that the state working committee had reportedly declined and rebuffed efforts to unite the state leaders of the party following disagreement that gripped the party since the last general election and during the time political appointments by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Deputy Senate President, Senator Omo-Agege, is running APC as his personal or his father’s property. He doesn’t want the unity of the party. He wants to be the only lord and star within the party in the state”, one of the leaders absent at the meeting confided on our correspondent on Thursday.
The source also faulted the venue of the meeting, claiming that they had hoped, Omo-Agege will convene a reconciliatory meeting before a caucus meeting, adding that “What’s the essence of fixing a meeting at the home of Senator Omo-Agege when crisis in the party has not been resolved?
“It’s quite clear that many leaders are not comfortable with the venue and won’t attend. In the first place, the choice of the venue was deliberate to prevent some leaders from attending. For benefit of doubt, the meeting should have been fixed at a neutral ground to encourage other leaders to attend.”
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But reacting, a loyalist of Senator Omo-Agege and member of the State Executive Committee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, exonerated the Deputy President of the Senate of the allegation, saying there are efforts to reconcile aggrieved leaders of the party ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The source further stated that there was nothing wrong from holding the meeting at the home of the party leader which is also to ensure the safety of all members of the party attending the meeting.
“All the leaders you mentioned were invited for the meeting. Senator Omo-Agege is very open for reconciliation. Don’t also forget that the disagreement among these leaders was not created by His Excellency (Omo-Agege). Omo-Agege as a leader of the party in Delta and the South-South is doing his best to ensure that APC remains stronger in the region”, the Delta APc official added.
Meanwhile, the state chapter of APC during the caucus meeting held at the home of the Deputy President of the Senate passed a vote of confidence on the Governor Mai Buni-led National Caretaker Committee of the Party.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by the State Publicity Secretary, Sylvester Imonina, noted that the meeting also affirmed the removal and replacement of some former State Working Committee members by the SEC.
The caucus also indicated interest to participate in the forthcoming local government council elections in Delta State, adding candidates of the party would be selected from the local level to ensure that the party wins at the poll.
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“At the meeting, far reaching decisions/resolutions were taken. They are: A Vote of confidence was passed by State Caucus in support of His Excellency, Mai Buni led National Caretaker Committee of the Party.
“Caucus also passed and affirmed the removal and replacement of some of the former SWC members by the SEC. That the Party must move ahead with her activities in the State and this is without prejudice to reaching out to those who feel aggrieved one way or the other.
“That the Party leadership at all levels should and must be respected. That is, Party discipline should be maintained/upheld when necessary.
“That the Party will participate in the forthcoming LG elections to be organized by DSIEC. The election/selection of Councillorship and Chairmanship Candidates should be localized. That is, members/stakeholders in every Wards/LGA should be solely responsible for election/selection of who to represent them in the DSIEC organized election”, the statement added.
Among those that attended the caucus meeting included Distinguished Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, Prophet Jones Ode Erue, Hon. (Rev.) Francis E. Waive, Hon. Moses Ogodo, Barr. Alex Onwaudiamu, Olorogun Adelabu Bodjor, Chief George Okafor, Prince Valentine Egbe, His Excellency, AVM (Rtd.) Frank Ajobene and Chief (Hon.) Halims Agoda.
Others were Hon. Doris Uboh, Hon. Innocent Anidi, Barr. E.I. Ogbuta, M.A. Mukoro, Chief Lucky Esigie, Chief Hyacinth Enuha, Prof. Leroy Edozien, Chief Austin Izagbo, Chief Paulinus Akpeki, Hon. Harvest Igben, Evang. Anna Agoda, Chief Charles Olisa, Barr. E.V. Onojeghuo, Austin Oribioye, Mr. Moses Kamaiya, Dr. Ikechukwu Odikpo, Chief Johnny Michael, Chuks Erhire and Dr. Otive Igbuzor among others
