Uduaghan, Other Chieftains Shun PDP Congress

Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

Delta State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday in Asaba held its congress with a 27-member executive committee chosen to conduct the affairs of the party for the next four years.

A legal practitioner, Mr Kingsley Esiso, emerged as the Chairman of the party in the state while Mr Val Arenyinka, aslo a lawyer, was elected as Deputy Chairman.

Esiso, who hails from Delta Central senatorial zone, succeeds Chief Edwin Uzor, the outgoing chairman who is from Delta North zone.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa was among the over 800 delegates drawn from across the 25 local government areas who voted to fill the positions of state chairman of the party, deputy chairman, three vice-chairmen and secretary while the other 21 positions were chosen by simple voice affirmation.

Nevertheless, candidates for most of the positions were determined through a consensus process with the officers generally returned unopposed even though voting for the six key positions were was conducted to give credence to the positions in line with democratic principles.

An eleven-member panel from the national secretariat of the PDP, Abuja, led by Mrs Uzo Nwandu, conducted the election under the watchful eyes of officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) who monitored the exercise.

Dr Okowa, who led other PDP leaders including his deputy, Mr Kingsley Otuaro, Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Hon Monday Igbuya, some former state party chairmen as well as national and state legislators including senators James Manager and Peter Nwaoboshi as well as numerous political office holders to the congress, commended the party faithful and supporters for a peaceful exercise.

He said the peaceful manner of the state congress not only bore eloquent testimony to the strength and strong organizational structure of the PDP in Delta State, but was indicative of the future success of the party at the national level.

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