The fracas between the two factions may be a signal to a fierce battle ahead of next year’s governorship election.
Senior Correspondent OKUNGBOWA AIWERIE examines the protracted crisis and its implications for the troubled chapter.
The violence that erupted at the pavillion of Delta State during the recent All Progressive Congress (APC) national convention in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has its roots in the vexed question of whether or not to zone its governorship ticket.
This contentious issue snowballed into the crisis that has now polarised party, resulting in the emergence of two factions fighting for control of the party structure, with the ultimate goal of producing the governorship flag-bearer next year.
The battle for the control of the party is essentially between Olorogun O’tega Emerhor/Enuha and Senator Ovie Omo-Agege/Ogboru factions.
Aligned to the Emerhor’s camp are ex-Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly and governorship aspirant, Hon Victor Ochei, Petroleum Minister (State) Dr. Ibe Kachukwu, Prof Pat Utomi, ex-member of the House of Representatives and governorship aspirant Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, Chief Hyacinth Enuha, Hon Doris Uboh, and others.
In the opposing camp are Senator Ovie Omo-Agege , Chief Great Ogboru, factional chairman Jones Erue, Chief Frank Kokori, Mariam Alli, Ike Odikpo, Veronica Ogbuago and a host of others.
While Jones Erue emerged from the congress organized by the Omo-Agege faction, Cyril Ogodo was elected from the congress conducted by the O’tega Emerhor faction.
The crises started in March when at a meeting of Delta North APC chieftains, at the country home of Kachukwu in Onicha-Ugbo ,Aniocha North L.G.A resolved to ensure that a gubernatorial aspirant of Delta North extraction under the banner of the APC should complete the tenure of the incumbent PDP government.
In its communiqué, the meeting urged all eligible aspirants from Delta North to make their ambitions known to the zone “at the earliest possible time” for the 2019 governorship elections.
According to them, “ from the inception of the third Republic ,the Central and South Senatorial District of Delta State have successfully completed two gubernatorial terms and as a result the right of the Delta North senatorial district to complete its second term under the banner of the APC is only equitable”.
It also resolved to “enlist the support of the other zones in Delta State to produce a saleable gubernatorial candidate of Delta North extraction”.
But, it appears the Delta North is unable to enlist the support of Delta Central to produce “a saleable candidate of Delta North extraction” as the proposal met stiff opposition from some of its leading light in Delta Central.
The official position of the then Delta APC leadership is that it does not recognize zoning of elective offices and that it has stated it in no uncertain terms.
Reacting to media reports that the party had zoned the position to Delta North, its erstwhile State chairman Mr. Jones Erue, debunked such insinuations.
He said “We hereby make it categorically clear that our party has not zoned the governorship ticket to any zone, and has no intention to do so…..we are totally committed to and will strictly follow our party’s constitution in the choice of all candidates.”
According to him, the party was averse to zoning of any elective position, stressing that zoning breaches the party’s constitution.
But, with the leader of the party from Delta Central and former governorship candidate in 2015, O’tega Emerhor, foreclosing his governorship ambition during a consultative visit by Prof Pat Utomi, at his country home in Evwreni, Delta State, he appeared to have given a tacit support to aspirants from Delta North.
He said: “As an individual, I have decided along with committed APC leaders who really want change in Delta State that we will not do things the same way again this time because the opposition in Delta has not had this type of opportunity that is available to us today.
You will recall that in 2015, I ran for the governorship position of Delta State, and still have the capacity to do that now. But I took a decision not to run because the environment supports a different formula that excludes me, and that is why I am not out there consulting like others.”
APC leaders in Delta South have also thrown their weight behind the plot to cede the slot to candidates of Delta North extraction, but with a caveat.
At its meeting on March 4 convened by its chairman, Yemi Omaghomi, it agreed to support Delta North governorship candidacy, with the proviso that such a candidate will “do one term in line with extant power rotation in the State and allow the zone complete its eight year tenure.”
According to the communiqué, “The Delta South APC notes that the request of Delta North APC is fair, just and equitable as it guarantees all ethnic groups ,particularly the minority ethnic groups ,in our dear State fair access to the governorship seat of the State”.
It appears the battle is between forces that want power in 2019 and those who want to await the 2023 elections, when it will be the “rightful turn” of the Delta Central zone.
Delta State, under the ruling PDP in the last 20 years, perpetuated a zoning formula that guarantees political access, and two terms to each of the three senatorial districts.
A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed that the resistance of the Omo-Agege/ Ogboru faction to a Delta North candidacy is based on the fact that, in 2023 should the APC win the governorship, the one term proposal will not be respected by the incumbent.
His words: “The major reason Ogboru is fighting for this position now is that should an APC governor of Delta Northern extraction win in 2019, what are the guarantees that he will do a single term like it is being bandied about? If he reneges, it means Delta Central will be out of power for about sixteen years. Do not forget the Urhobos have a numerical advantage in the State”.
APC chieftain, who also pleaded anonymity, accused Emerhor of pursuing his personal agenda.
He said: “Olorogun Emerhor is championing the cause of a Delta North candidate because he has reached agreement with some elements within the party for a Delta North governor that will do a single term, so he will be a major beneficiary in 2023 when it is the Urhobo turn to produce the governor going by the zoning formula among the ethnic groups.”
Although, Ogboru has not publicly declared his intention to run, sources confirmed that he is interested in picking the ticket on the platform of the APC and he will push his candidacy vigorously.
The fracas at the APC national convention is indicative of the fact that the contest will be a keenly fought battle.
But, it is clear that the incoming national party executive led by the former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole, has its work cut out for him.
The optimism of factional chairman, Erue, is instructive.
He said: “I have come to realize that when siblings are quarelling it their parents that call for a truce because the children will not agree to call themselves to order because there is already a divide, so in this case when the new executive at the national level comes on board everything will be resolved.
Already a resolution is in sight. You know water finds its level. For me, no victor, no vanquished, they are our brothers. Sometimes you can think wrongly, what you think is what you are .It does not make us remove you entirely as being wrong. When we get to that bridge we shall cross it”.
The pertinent question is will Adams Oshiomhole succeed at its task of reuniting its members in good time before the general elections?
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