2023: PDP May Loose Delta as Ward Chairmen Sue Okowa, Party over Ad-hoc delegates

2023: PDP May Loose Delta as Ward Chairmen Sue Okowa, Party over Ad-hoc delegates

Francis Tayor

Asaba_____ Trouble looms in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Delta State as aggrieved ward Chairmen and members of the five Working Committee are already collating signatures in order to institute legal action against leadership of the party (National Working Committee), the governor of Delta State, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, over alleged plot to shortchange their constitutional rights to vote in the forthcoming party primaries, stressing that it is the five men working Committee of the party at the ward level and 3 elected Ad-hoc delegates that have the constitutional right to vote in the PDP party primaries as stipulated in the party constitution.

In a statement released on Saturday morning in Asaba and signed by Prince Kelvin Perekeme, Chairman PDP Ward 7 Ayakoromo in Burutu local government area on behalf of the party Working Committee across the state, boldly stated that there is a looming earthquake to hit PDP that will result for the party to loose Delta State to the opposition if the right thing is not done immediately by the party leadership.

Prince Kelvin stated that the National Working Committee and Governor Okowa does not have the power and legal backing to decide on who to vote in the party primaries, adding that only the constitution of the country and that of PDP have the moral justification to do that. 

In backing his statement with the constitution, Prince Kelvin said:

 "Section 84(8) of the Electoral Act 2022 provides that: "A political party that adopts the system of indirect primaries for the choice of its candidate shall clearly outline in its constitution and rule the procedure for the democratic election of delegates to vote at the convention, congress or meeting.

By the provisions of the Electoral Act as quoted above, it means that only the elected party executive members that will vote at the party primaries. The elected delegates in the PDP are: National Working Committee members, Zonal Party Executive members, State Working Committee members, LGA Party Executive members, five Ward Party Executive members (Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Secretary, Women and Youth Leaders as well as the three ad hoc delegates from each Ward.

Some people want to give blanket interpretation to Electoral Act in order to exclude all other delegates aside the ad hoc delegates. Any attempt to unlawfully exclude any of the qualified delegates will spell doom for the party. Those who want to use only ad hoc delegates to vote at the party primaries should be ready to go court as the delegates will sue the PDP to nullify the elections."

Speaking further, he said: " Already, delegates are collating signatures in Delta State in preparation for any eventuality. The Electoral Act is very clear on who is qualified to vote. Some persons are planning to take advantage of the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 to unlawfully disenfranchised many delegates who they feel will not do their bidding. If these selfish party stalwarts temper with the clear provisions of the Act then PDP will loose Delta State to the opposition in 2023. We hope that these political players know the dangerous implications of their evil plan to impose candidate on the people."

Therefore, as a matter of urgency and for the general interest of the umbrella party, he urged the National Working Committee and Governor Okowa of Delta State to make a U-turn immediately in their purported plan to use only A-dhoc delegates to vote or risk losing Delta to the opposition party in coming 2023 general elections, the statement added.