The looming crisis among the supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State ahead of the October 25, 2014 council poll has been averted.
This is thanks to the mock primary election conducted in Prof. B.I.C. Ijeoma’s place in Asaba to simplify the numerous aspirants that joined the race to become the chairman of the council area.
Seven aspirants, including a woman, had engaged themselves in the race to clinch the position presently being occupied by a transition chairman.
A group, the Concerned Ndokwa Easterners Political Forum, had last week decried the alleged plot to impose an ‘anointed’ candidate on the council area, vowing to resist any form of marginatlization of other existing wards in the council area.
Led by its President General, Sir Nnamdi Chukwumah, alongside five others, in a signed statement made available to The Eagle Online, the group wondered why the six political appointees in Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s administration were picked from Ward 5 only.
The therefore flayed any attempt by the leaders to produce the council chairman again from the same ward 5, explaining that “in this present dispensation of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Ward 5 (Aboh) has the following political offices, Commissioner for Youth Development, Political Adviser to Governor Uduaghan (Delta North), Delta State House of Assembly Service Commissioner, the DESOPADEC Commissioner and the Communication Manager to the Governor are from the Ward, even as the present Transition Committee Chairman of the council area is from the ward.”
The winner of the mock election, Hon. Saddrack Opia, in Asaba on Tuesday thanked the PDP leaders and stakeholders in the council area for toeing the path of peace in streamlining the aspirants, following the directive of the party.
Opia, holds a degree in Political Science from the Delta State University, Abraka.
He was a councilor that represented Ward 13 (Onyah) in the council area in 2008.
He became the deputy Leader of the council’s Legislative Arm on November 28, 2008, and substantive Leader on March 1, 2011.
This was before a resolution of the state’s House of Assembly made him the acting chairman of the council area on May 12, 2011.
Opia said what the leaders have done spelt good omen for the development of the council area.
According to him, the leaders did not sacrifice experience, charisma and sustainability in government on the altar of mediocrity.
He said: “This is the first time the ruling PDP leaders and stakeholders in Ndokwa East Local Government Area will unanimously speak out to recognize a young man who is highly experienced and possesses the charisma to unite the people of the council area in for the development of the locality.
“I want to thank the leaders who conducted the mock primary election on Sunday, last week in Prof. B.I.C Ijeoma’s place in Asaba, where I emerged as the one to flag our party’s ticket for the council elections.
“I want to assure them that I will not betray the confidence reposed in me. I will use my wealth of experience to unite all aggrieved members of the party in our council area and make them see reason why we should all join hands to move the council forward.”
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