Delta Central APC Stakeholders Query Genuineness of Reconciliation Committee

* Advocate sanctions for 2023 electoral saboteurs

Critical stakeholders, local government chairmen and leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta Central Senatorial District of Delta State have criticized the ongoing reconciliation efforts led by Elder Godsday Orubebe, a former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.

They described the process as a “hoax” and questioned the committee’s intentions.

At a public hearing of the Secretariat Subcommittee of the Olorogun O’tega Emerhor-led Reconciliation Committee for Delta Central held at the PTI Conference Centre in Effurun, the stakeholders presented memoranda expressing concerns.

They argued that the state party chairman has lost the moral ground to lead reconciliation efforts and therefore cannot be trusted to midwife any reconciliation.

The Delta Central stakeholders, who consistently expressed dissatisfaction with Elder Omeni Sobotie’s leadership of the State Working Committee (SWC), advocated a shift in focus from the unproductive reconciliation committee to a 2023 Elections Evaluation Committee.

The committee would be mandated to investigate the actions of party leaders during the governorship election, identifying and sanctioning saboteurs to prevent similar betrayals in 2027.

Top leaders of the APC in Delta Central Senatorial District, including a former member of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Abel Oshevire; a chieftain of the party, Chief Christopher Ominimini Obivwevbi; a member of the state Working Committee, Hon. Chuks Erhire; the state Women Leader, Mrs. Ana Agoda; the Chairman, Ughelli North Local Government Area, Hon. Onoabedje Obakpororo; Chairman, Uvwie Local Government Area, Hon. Illeleji Wilfred and Papa Tuesday Onoge strongly criticized the state chairman and working committee for failing to provide effective leadership to the party.

These prominent stakeholders accused the state party chairman of failing to convene or hold any executive meetings with the state Working Committee members or engage with the local government executives since taking office.

Furthermore, they alleged that the chairman is unfamiliar with the locations of the party’s council offices, including the one in his own Ughelli North Local Government.

They emphasized that the party’s poor performance in recent elections was largely due to the ineffective leadership and lack of vision from the state chairman and working committee.

Senator Ovie Omo-Agege’s 2023 pre-election reconciliation efforts were noted, but concerns remain.

Despite Hon. Victor Ochei receiving significant concessions, two House of Assembly seats and delegates for national convention, Senate and House of Representatives primaries, he didn’t support the party.

This they argue raises questions about preventing future betrayals in 2027 if those involved in the 2023 debacle aren’t held accountable.

Chief Christopher Ominimini Obivwevbi, representing APC Ughelli North elders and leaders, stated that the party would have won the last election if not for the betrayal by some of its top leaders.

He emphasized that those who betrayed the party were not ordinary members or followers, but leaders who failed to uphold the party’s interests.

Obivwevbi stressed the need to review the party’s performance in the last election, noting that a post-election review is essential after every election.

He questioned the purpose of a reconciliation committee, suggesting instead that an evaluation committee should be established to investigate the 2023 elections and recommend sanctions for those who betrayed the party.

“The first thing to do is to review our performance in the last elections. After every election, there should be a post-election review. What we need is not a reconciliation committee, who is reconciling who, who is the aggrieved person at what time is the person aggrieved?,” Obivwevbi said.

“We need to evaluate what happened and identify areas for improvement. Those who traded with the party’s mandate must be held accountable before we can move forward.”

He emphasized that the evaluation committee would serve as a deterrent to potential betrayers in future elections, ensuring that the party learns from its mistakes and moves forward with integrity.

“The reconciliation committee is a distraction from the real issues,” Obivwevbi said.

Hon. Abel Oshevire added: “The state chairman has failed to provide effective leadership. He hasn’t called a single executive meeting since taking office. How can he reconcile the party when he can’t even manage his own team?”

A stakeholder from Delta Central suggested replacing the reconciliation committee with a 2023 Elections Evaluation Committee, saying: “We need to investigate the role of party leaders during the governorship elections and recommend sanctions for saboteurs to deter similar actions in 2027.”

Uvwie APC LGA Chairman, Hon. Illeleji Wilfred, presented a scathing indictment of Sobotie, citing his inability to mobilize the party before and after the election.

Wilfred argued that the state party chairman hindered Delta APC’s progress, saying: “The current leadership has become a clog in the progress of Delta APC. It’s time for a change.”

He then moved for a no-confidence vote against the chairman and State Working Committee, which delegates unanimously approved with a resounding ‘yes’.

Other speakers urged party leaders to reflect on their actions and apologize to members they betrayed by abandoning the governorship candidate, which one member described as ‘witchcraft and crab mentality.’ This betrayal led to the party’s loss in the 2023 governorship election.

Onoge questioned the effectiveness of the reconciliation efforts, saying: “If the leaders who are fighting each other at the top are not in the meeting to explain their grievances and probably forgive each other, what’s the point of the meeting when the dramatic personnel are all absent?”

Delegates reaffirmed support for Senator Ovie Omo-Agege’s candidacy in 2027, citing his capacity, followership and courage to challenge the PDP. “He’s the only visible person right now in the party who can dislodge the PDP in Delta,” said a delegate.

In response, Orubebe urged party members to focus on the future, stating that the current executives are transitional and will be a more inclusive leadership structure.

“Our party’s reward system is poor because of disunity amongst leaders,” Orubebe said. “We’ll select the next EXCO from every ward, ensuring all leaders are involved and it’s all-embracing, from wards to local governments.”

However, stakeholders remain sceptical. “We’ve heard promises before,” said Hon. Chuks Erhire. “We need action, not words.”

The hearing highlighted deep-seated concerns within the party, with stakeholders demanding accountability, effective leadership and sanctions for saboteurs to prevent future betrayal.