By Our Correspondent
*Drum support for Mike Ibada
PDP stakeholders from Udu Local Government Area of Delta State have called on the party leadership at the state level to resist the temptation of imposing an unpopular candidate on the party, stressing that it is the turn of Udu South to produce the next Chairman of the party so that PDP can retain its lost glory in the area.
Ahead of the forth-coming PDP Congress in Delta State, the Udu PDP leaders in a statement signed by Hon Raymond Edijala, member Board of the Delta Development and Property Authority; Chief Matthew Emegbo, Exco member, PDP Delta Central; Chief Luke Djebah, Hon Esther Omene, Vice Chairman, Udu LGC; Chief Keston Okoro immediate past member DTHA and SSA to the Governor and Comrade Vincent Oyibode, maintained that Udu north has produced the last two Chairmen of the party from 2007 till date, Barr J.E.O Ishaka and the incumbent, Mr Sam Ughwujohwovwo, and that it would be great disservice to attempt to retain the incumbent against equity, fairness and harmony in the party.
‘’There are ten federal wards in Udu, five in Udu south including wards 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8, and the other five are in Udu north including wards 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10. Barr Ishaka who was chairman of the party from 2007 to 2011 is from ward 5 while the incumbent, Sam Ughujohwovwo is from ward 10 both in Udu north. If the party must move forward and instill confidence in the people, the next Chairman of the party should come from Udu south to make for equity, fairness and harmony in the party. Sam Ughwujowhovwo has done his best, but he should be allowed to go so that another person could step in to build the party further’’, the statement said.
The leaders added that the best hand to lead the party out of its present challenges and woes is Mr Mike Ibada from Udu ward 2 because of his consistency and diverse experience in the party leadership.
‘’Mike Ibada is tried, tested and trusted. He is as old as the party meaning he is a foundation member of the party. He was legal adviser of the PDP in Udu LGA from 2004 to 2005; LGA Secretary of the party from 2007 to 2009; Vice Chairman from 2011 to date and he too has served the PDP as collation officer during all elections from 2007 to the last general election. He is a bridge builder, crisis manager, a crusader for the interest and growth of the party and truly loved by the party members at the grassroot. Mike Ibada is popular amongst party members hence some persons are trying to stop him by imposing a candidate on the party against the wish of the people. What we pray for is a credible party congress where the best hand should emerge in line with the general interest of the party members. Ibada is not asking to be imposed’’, they said.
The party leaders also appealed to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to recall how he won the PDP primaries because of his popularity and not because anybody imposed him on the party, adding that his victory in the general election was also made possible because the party stood by his popular choice.
‘’His Excellency, Governor Okowa is a democrat to the core. That is why we find it difficult to believe the story making the round that he has already decided on who the next PDP chairman in Udu LGA should be. We are being told the Governor has spoken, having made a choice of who the next Chairman must be. We don’t believe this story hence we are using this medium to appeal to His Excellency to allow the will of the people to prevail. When a party chairman evolves via credible congress, he defers to the people and confidence is restored in the operation of the party leadership. We pray Governor Okowa and the State PDP Chairman, Chief Edwin Uzor should not impose anybody on us’’, they said.
The leaders also called on all those interested in becoming the party Chairman to work hard among the party members instead of running to seek endorsement in Asaba against the wish of the people. ‘’The era of imposition is over. We are building a new PDP ahead of the 2019 polls and the best thing to do is for the party leadership to be decided by the people’’, they added.
