Delta: Nwaoboshi’s resignation boosts Mrs. Ali’s senatorial

The wife of a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mariam Nneamaka Ali, may receive sympathy votes next year for her senatorial ambition.

The state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, The Eagle Online gathered, is plotting to spring a surprise in her favour before the party’s primary election billed for two weeks time.

Ali, whose senatorial bid had suffered setbacks since 2007 due to the hi-tech politics being orchestrated in the oil rich state, has the immediate past state Chairman of the party, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi; a former Commissioner, Chief Paul Osaji; and two other aspirants from the district to contend with.

Notwithstanding that she won the ruling party ticket in 2007, she was however defeated by Senator Patrick Osakwe, who was allegedly planted in a ‘give-and-take’ return ticket in the Accord party.

In 2011, the incumbent Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, who is competing to succeed Governor Emmanuel Uduagham in 2015, defeated her during the party’s primary election.

The senatorial contest has since pitched Ali against Nwaoboshi who, after their fight at the party’s stakeholders’ meeting, described her as a “serial loser”.

The Auditor of the party, who Nwaoboshi handed over to, has been removed and replaced with the Vice Chairman of the party, Austin Ayeimidejor.

But since the seat of the party chairman was zoned to Delta North and Ayeimidejor hails from Delta South, he was swiftly appointed as a Commissioner by Governor Uduaghan.

The tactic, it was revealed in Asaba on Sunday was to pave the way for the emergence of one Chief Augustine Obidi, who hails from Ibusa in Oshimili North Local Government Area of the state.

“That being the case, Nwaoboshi’s ambition for the Senate next year may have failed because Obidi and the former chairman are sworn enemies.

“Already, there is sympathy in Oshimili South and North axis of the state for Mrs. Ali and Obidi is one of those that have been commiserating with the woman before now,” a PDP source disclosed.

The source, who pleaded anonymity, said the party wants to make peace with Ali “once and for all”, hence, according to him, “the need to return the party structure, especially in Oshimili South Local Government Area to her and ensure that she soft-landed in 2015.”