Delta PDP expels ex-Speaker, SSG, others

The Delta State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party on Thursday expelled defectors from the party to opposition parties.

Among those affected by the expulsion order were two chieftains who contested the December 8, 2014 governorship primaries in the state: Engr. Victor Ochei and Oharisi Ovie Omo-Agege.

Ochei, who is the immediate past Speaker of the state House of Assembly, joined Accord Party and became its Delta North Senatorial District candidate, while Omo-Agege, a former Secretary to State Government, picked the Delta Central Senatorial District ticket of the Labour Party.

Also affected was a former member of the House of Representatives, Doris Uboh, who is now the Accord Party House of Representatives candidate for Ika Federal Constituency. The Accord Party candidate for Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency, Ngozi Okolie, was also affected for leaving the PDP after allegedly failing in the primaries.

Announcing their expulsion in Asaba while addressing journalists shortly after the State Executive Council meeting, the Chairman of the party in the state, Chief Edwin Uzor, noted that their expulsion has been approved.

Uzor said: “Any member of the PDP who left the party to contest against the party’s candidate from another party has been expelled.

“We rose from a meeting this morning and their expulsion was approved.

“I am telling you this as the chairman of the party.”

Uzor said the party issued an ultimatum to the erring members to retrace their steps failing which they would be sanctioned.

He said the affected members never took the party’s warnings seriously.

According to him, no fewer than 10 members of the party were suspended from the party for engaging in anti-party activities, adding that there are several others on the party’s watch list which it will not hesitate to sanction accordingly.

On the chances of the party in the forthcoming polls, Chief Uzor informed newsmen that the massive turnouts during the party’s campaign rallies across the 25 local government areas was an indication that victory was sure for the party in all the elections across the state.

He expressed satisfaction with the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards by the Independent National Electoral Commission, saying that about 1.8 million cards have so far been distributed out of the 2.2 million registered voters.

Uzor therefore urged the electoral umpire to take measures to distribute the remaining 400,000 cards to the owners in the state to enable the voters exercise their franchise on Election Day.