Ahead of forthcoming local government (LG) elections in Delta state, the endorsement of Victor Asasa as consensus chairmanship aspirant for Isoko South LG by a caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has torn the party apart in the area.
The political landscape in a the state has charged with interest trading since Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) fixed the LG elections for March 6, 2021
Asasa’s choice was reached at the party stakeholders’ meeting attended by prominent leaders of the party in the locality at the home of the caucus leader and chairman, Hon. Ross Uredi, in Asaba on Thursday.
No fewer than ten aspirants on the platform of the party also attended the meeting where Asasa, the leading chairmanship aspirant, was unanimously endorsed by all in attendance.
According to NigeriDeltaToday, the meeting was attended by PDP leaders including Chief Solomon Ogba, Hon Ferguson Onwo (member representing Isoko South Constituency 2 at the Delta State House of Assembly), Hon Kenneth Ogba (member representing Isoko South Constituency 1 at the DTHA), and the chairman of Isoko South LGA, Sir Itiako Malik Ikpokpo.
It was, however, learnt that the choice of Asasa has thrown the party into crisis as some chieftains loyal to the Managing Director of DESOPADEC and Secretary of the Caucus, Bashorun Askia Ogieh, boycotted the meeting.
Sources at the meeting revealed that Prosper Edo, a leading chairmanship aspirant on the camp of Bashorun Ogieh, and the chairman of the party in the council, Hon. Obaro Godspower, were also absent at the meeting.
The leaders, who frowned at the action of the DESOPADEC boss, accused him of singlehandedly picking the PDP chairman in the council.
The sources added that Asasa’s choice has the backing and support of the state governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, among the list of the aspirants reportedly presented to the governor.
“Victor Asasa enjoys the support of party leaders in Isoko South, His Excellency, Dr. Okowa and endorsement of his fellow aspirants who all pledged to work to deliver him as the party’s candidate in the forthcoming election”, one of the PDP leaders disclosed.
Another source at the meeting added, “Leaders of the party are not happy with the attitude of Bashorun Askia Ogieh who always wants to impose his will on the people.
“Don’t forget that he singlehandedly imposed Hon. Obaro Godspower, his domestic aide as chairman of the party without protest from other stakeholders and wonder why he still wants to impose Prosper Edo on the good people of Isoko south despite the fact that the security report did not favour him.
The Askia group is plotting to impose about 15 councilors on the people. The party leaders called on His Excellency to call Askia to order, as his conduct is capable of destroying the peace and harmony that exist in the party and the party can easily lose to rival APC if his excesses are not checked”, the party leader posited.
When contacted on the development, Mr Edo, one of the chairmanship aspirants for the party’s ticket, said he was not invited for the meeting thus he did not boycott the meeting.
He explained, “I was never invited nor attended the meeting talkless of staging a walkout. I am a party man. Whether I get the ticket or not, I will obey the decision of the party.
“I will not in all circumstances choose another decision aside from the decision of my party. If the party chooses me as the candidate, I will be glad, and I will appeal to all the other aspirants to work with me.
“However, if the party chooses otherwise and picks another person, I will equally work with the person for the victory of the party.
“Secondly, the primaries of my party haven’t been done. When the primaries are concluded, whoever the party chooses I will stand by it. I’ll not oppose the decision of my party.”
