Ahead of the December 21, 2020 and March 6, 2021 Delta state local government primary and general elections, a pressure group in Ughelli, the adminstrative headquarters of Ughelli North local government area Delta state, “The Natives of Ughelli North” has vowed to resist any plan by PDP leaders in Ughelli North to impose any chairmanship aspirant on the good people of Ughelli North local government area.
The group, in a statement signed by its president, Mr. Daniel Awusa and its secretary, Mr. Olokpa Felix made available to newsmen in Ughelli, alleged that there are plans by leaders of PDP in the council area to impose candidate against the general will of the people, an attempt to disfranchise the electorate to exercise their voting right and vote people big their choice.
The statement read in part; “Your Excellency, rumour is moving round that some leaders in Ughelli North are planning to impose a candidate on the people of Ughelli North, we are saying NO to such plan because it will not happen”.
While underscoring the present adminstration of the council led by Hon. Godwin Adode, the group noted that in 2017 during the local government election, the present chairman of the council was imposed on them with the hope that he will perform but the reverse is the case.
” It is pertinent’to note that the present tenure of the local government chairman will end by December 2020 and election process is ongoing However, we are hearing rumour that some leaders in the local government are trying to push you to return the incumbent chairman whose tenure will end by December.
“We are saying that it will not happen because the few leaders are doing so for their selfishness and they cannot put Ughelli North into second phase of pains, hunger and insecurity which was experienced in the tenure of the incumbent chairman.
“Your Excellency, you will recall that in 2017 during the local government elections, the present chairman was imposed on the people of Ughelli North local government area and we accepted it hoping that he will perform. He failed us woefully, the records are there. He starved the youths throughout his three years tenure as local government chairman. All he did was to start acquiring landed properties for himself and his few boys”.
While urging the state government to conduct free and fair primaries for all aspirants in the forthcoming local government election in the state and offer a level playground for all aspirants, the group barred some of the prominent PDP chieftains in the council area from coming to Ughelli North just as it asked them to remain in Asaba and make Asaba their home.
Amongst the affected chieftains of the party include the chief of staff to Delta State government, Chief David Edevbie, Rt. Hon Festus Ovie Agas, Hon. Samuel Mariere, Hon. Kenneth Ibru, Hon. Solomon Ahwinahwi, Hon. Eric Oharisi, Prof. Patrick Muoboghare, Chief Pius Ovidje and others.
The group vowed to make Ughelli North local government area uncomfortable for them
*The above leaders should remain in Asaba and make Asaba their home if not we shall make Ughelli north uncomfortable for them” the group threatened.
