Nelson Utip
The Delta North and South zones of The All Progressives Congress APC in Delta State have condemned the plan to foist a senatorial vice Chairman as the acting Party Chairman in the state as the crisis in the State chapter of the party escalate.
Its on record that The State Working Committee (SWC) of the party, had bypassed the APC state Deputy Chairman, Barr Francis Obigbor, and appointed Chief Paulinus Akpeki, a senatorial Vice Chairman, as the acting State Chairman while the State Chairman, Elder Omeni Sobotie is on medical vacation.
The Delta North and Central chapters of the party called the move an audacious and ill-fated attempt, a politically motivated attempt with hidden agenda and not
The two senatorial districts said the SWC decision was politically motivated, and not upholding democratic accountability.
The Delta North APC made the condemnation in a statement issued the party leader in the zone, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, on Monday, while the party Chairmen from Delta Central made theirs in a statement signed by Onoabedje Obakpororo, Chairman of APC Ughelli/North Chapter and Chairman of all chairmen in the Delta Central Senatorial District, with Comrade Wilfred Ileleji, Chairman of APC Uvwie Chapter and Secretary of the Delta Central Chairmen’s forum.
They see the appointment as unconstitutional and a threat to the unity of the party.
Nwaoboshi claimed that the move by Akpeki and his cohorts is detrimental to the unity of the party in the state.
“We unequivocally and unanimously endorse the emergence of Barr Francis Obigbor as the Acting Chairman of APC Delta state, in strict accordance with the APC constitution.
“As the Deputy State Chairman, Barr Obigbor is the rightful and legitimate person to assume the role of Acting Chairman.
“We will not stand idly by while the Delta Central Senatorial District attempts to rob the Delta north senatorial district of the position to which it was duly elected at the last congress.
“The APC constitution is crystal clear on the matter of succession, and we will not allow any individual or group to flout the constitution and impose their will on the party.
“We warn those involved in this attempted coup to desist from their nefarious activities and respect the constitution. The statement read.
The condemnation was also echoed by the chairmen of the eight local government chapters in Delta Central APC who argued that this appointment violates Article 14.2 of the APC Constitution which stipulates that the deputy state chairman should assume the role of state chairman in the event of a vacancy, not a Senatorial Vice Chairman.
The eight Chairmen maintained that sticking to the constitutional provisions and established protocol is critical for party stability and maintaining democratic principles.
The chairmen have however called for the immediate reversal of Akpeki’s appointment to align with the party constitution.
