CRISIS OF POLITICAL PARTIES CONGRESSES IN DELTA STATE: How It All Started

Before this democracy started in 1999, it is absolutely true that elections in the state are generally free and fair, the last of it being the option A4 in which we the delegates queued behind councilors and Chairmen including governorship candidates. The results from the exercise were generally free and fair. However, when the Peoples Democratic Party was formed, this author, Chief Robert Onome, Chief Daniel Okoro and one Ramson Ikweki ensure the party have its way in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State. Even when membership was undertaken most of those making noise in the polity today were either in primary school or yet unborn. When the party won its first election in 1999 producing the governor, many of the results were written in hotels and primary schools. From 1999 to 2007 there was no local government election conducted in the state rather it was all result written. Even at the federal level there has not been any rather it was all crises.

A local government election conducted during this period was like an aircraft which took off from an airport never to be seen again. This election led to the popular name “under Otokutu” bridge. How? The late Justice Omo-Agege was the chairman of the state electoral commission and on the day of the election as our opponents are busy going to the poling units at 8am, Justice Omo-Agege have started announcing results of election that was yet to be conducted. The most disastrous one was in late 2006 which is to conduct the primary of who will take over the governorship seat from May 29th 2007-2015. The primary was to take place at now Stephen Keshi International Stadium Asaba and twenty-four hours to the election many delegates have travelled to Asaba for a night rest. On the election day text messages started flying that the election has been shifted to Ogwashi-ukwu stadium. Even about six of the contestants were not aware of change of venue till the dying minute and all headed there.

At the venue many of the governorship candidates could not enter the stadium because the state governor at the time who wants to impose his uncle, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan on the state has solely compiled the names of delegates to be allowed into the arena. Many delegates earlier shortlisted by their wards and local governments became stranded and could not access the venue because their names have been replaced by the “King of Delta State” at the time. With the rigging master plan of these Peoples Democratic Party members now turned All Progressive Congress, one should not expect any difference because what goes around comes around. As popular as the Peoples General, Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru was known and his Alliance For Democracy, the rigging machine of the Peoples Democratic Party did not give him a breathing space. I knew that even in the senate during former president Buhari era there was “war” in the senate too.

I recall vividly the last general election conducted in delta state, many elders in the PDP that has decamped to the APC ran away from their residence for fear of safety about a week before returning home in Ethiope West Local Government Area of the state. Even the member of the House of Representative invaded the secretariat of PDP renaming it APC and even said the property belongs to her father but it has been confirmed that it was not her father’s property. The press address by the Oghara Chiefs lack merit because delta state political parties and congresses is not an “Animal Farm” where some are more equal than others. Is the Oghara Chiefs telling us that those grand-father and great great-grand-father that flee their homes are not important? Now that APC has spoken who is aggrieved should use his or her connection at the highest place to subdue and get victory as that was the way PDP now APC works.

Joseph Esivwenughwu is the former Chairman of Okuetolor Community Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State Nigeria.