Ahead of the next week’s All Progressives Congress, (APC), states congresses, the Delta state chapter of the APC has been submerged in crisis following the endorsement of the immediate past Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshionhole by the South South Zonal Executive Committee as its choice for the position of the National Chairman of the party.
The APC South South Zonal Executive Committee had few weeks ago endorsed the Edo state former governor, Adams Oshionhole for the position of the National Chairman, but this seems not to have gone down well with some elements of the Delta state APC.
Rejecting and disassociating themselves from the endorsement, the Delta state Deputy State Chairman of APC, Cyril Ogodo in a press statement signed by him, said the former Edo state comrade governor was not endorsed as the choice of the APC South South.
But in a swift reaction, the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Delta State Chapter under the leadership of Jones Ode Erue, reprimanded the state Deputy Chairman of the party, Cyril Ogodo for issuing a press statement condemning and rejecting the endorsement of the former Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshionhole by the South South Zonal Executive Committee as the choice of the zone.
In a statement signed by State Legal Adviser, E. V. Onojeghuo Esq, on behalf of Delta state APC, titled “Re: Purported Rejection Of The Endorsement Of Adams Oshiomhole As National Chairman Of APC” and made available to HardReporters correspondent, queried the state deputy chairman, Cyril Ogodo, saying he has no locus standi and does not possessed the constitutional powers to make such statement on behalf of the party in the state without the express permission from the state chairman.
“It must be emphatically stated that the Deputy Chairman has no locus standi and does not possessed the constitutional powers to make such statement on behalf of the Party in the Delta State without the express permission from the state chairman who has not authorized such unguarded utterances rejecting the endorsement of HE Adams Oshiomhole.
“It is obvious that the Deputy State Chairman is playing the script of his pay masters as he is not a member of the South South Zonal Executive Committee and was not present at the meeting of 23rd April, 2018 where the decision to endorse the HE Adams Oshiomhole was taken by the majority of the members present including leaders from Delta State.
“While not belittling the achievements of Chief John Oyegun as a worthy son of the zone, it is equally on record that HE Adams Oshiomhole was the only APC Governor to have successfully transfer power to another APC Governor in the person of Godwin Obaseki in the entire South South Zone which is no mean feat hence the endorsement.
“The hue and cry over the venue of the meeting at the Edo State Government House and not Port Harcourt as the zonal headquarters, is total hogwash as there is no provision in the Party’s Constitution that makes it mandatory to hold meetings in Port Harcourt before they become binding. Meetings of the zone are called at behest of the Zonal Chairman who has the authority to pick any state in the zone be the host.
“That the Party in Delta State is not the property of one man as there are other leaders and critical stakeholders of the Party with equal say in the well being and progress of the Party in the in State and majority of them were present at the meeting of 23rd April, 2018 and gave their consent to the endorsement of HE Adams Oshiomhole as the choice of the zone for the office of national chairman.”
The statement adds, that “For the avoidance of doubt, the Delta State APC remains resolute and in total support of the decision of the South South Zonal Executive Committee.”
