A foremost governorship aspirant, Olorogun Barrister Kenneth Gbagi, has alleged threat to life from a security aide of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa allegedly under the instruction of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state.
In a petition addressed to the national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Iyorcha Ayu, and made available to journalists in Asaba, and titled: “Threat to Life and anti-democratic conduct by His Excellency, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor of Delta state at Government House”, Olorogun Gbagi said delegates for the ongoing primaries were invited by the governor and him, being a delegate, had to attend the meeting.
But at the entrance to the government house, he was confronted by the chief of staff to the governor, Ovie Festus Agas, who said him and several others were not permitted into the meeting venue.
According to him, he insisted on knowing why he should not be permitted into the venue of the meeting, being a delegate for the primary election.
But when he continued insisting on knowing why he was not part of those invited, a gun trotting ADC of the governor approached him and warned him that he had orders to shoot him and nothing would happen if he failed to leave the government house premises, adding that the governor did not want him at the meeting.
Amidst the altercation, he said his local government chairman identified his name on the list, saying he is a delegate for the election. This, however, did not change the situation.
In the petition which has gone viral on the social media, Olorogun Gbagi said the essence of the meeting was to intimidate delegates and coerce them to vote for his preferred candidate in the May 25 primary election. He alleged that the governor issued threats against anyone who would vote against his preferred candidate in the election.
He also alleged that the governor openly offered inducement of between one million naira and above to those who would vote for his preferred candidate. He added that the action of the governor would sink the fortune of the PDP in Delta state.
Gbagi, a foundation member of the party in Delta in 1998 and a former minister of state for education, described his refusal by the governor as a show of hostility, desperation and threat to life.
