SAN FRANCISCO, September 30, (THEWILL) – The two leading governorship aspirants in the Delta State All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Great Ogboru and Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei clashed minutes into the primary exercise over the authentic list of accredited delegates to be used for the exercise holding at the Federal Technical College in capital Asaba.
Also involved in the heated argument was Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, who is a core supporter of Ogboru’s bid.
Ochei, and the two other aspirants cleared for the exercise, Dr. Cairo Ojougbo and Dr. Pat Utomi had earlier Sunday during a meeting between the aspirants, leaders of the party and electoral panel officials complained about the partiality of national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who they accused of skewing the process to help Ogboru emerge winner.
The aggrieved aspirants had complained that the party had deliberately kept the accredited delegates lists away from them but handed it to Ogboru and Omo-Agege. They said it made it impossible for them to canvas for votes as they did not know the identity of the delegates.
Utomi and Ojougbo would later announce their withdrawal from the race in protest.
The arguments at the primary started when Senator Omo-Agege unsuccessfully tried to talk the panel into using either of the two separate lists in his possession saying they are the correct documents for the primary, but was vehemently resisted by Ochei. The issue was however resolved when the CP of Police in the State intervened and both parties accepted to use the delegates list which the electoral panel chaired by Retr. General Lawrence Onoja brought from Abuja.
The list however in the Onoja panel possession according to checks by journalists covering the primary appears to be different from the list of delegates approved for the Ogboru faction of the party by the court through which it is claiming legitimacy as the authentic state exco.
The poorly managed accreditation of delegates was still ongoing as at 10.30pm and expected to run through mid day on Independence Day and then voting is expected to start afterwards and could run into early Tuesday.
In a chat with journalists when things had calmed, Ochei and Omo-Agege explained the reason for the charged arguments.
Ogboru who has the full support of Oshiomhole and the party structure for the exercise appears to be the favourite but Ochei, who remains very popular statewide may clinch a shocking victory. A text message was circulated around delegates suggesting that Ojuogbo, who was at the venue had dropped out and endorsed Ochei.
This race remains too close to call.
Meanwhile, violence has erupted and stalled the process with police firing multiple rounds of teargas. This occurred at about 11.pm when thugs believed to be supporters of Ogboru became restive as a result of the slow but diligent accreditation process.
Update I: The process has again continued after the police managed to restore calm. The gates to the venue have now been thrown open and the crowd of supposed delegates outside have been allowed into the premises without accreditation.
Update II: The exercise has now lost its legitimacy as thugs working for Ogboru are now being used as delegates and are casting ballots whilst policemen and panel officials are feigning ignorance. The authentic delegates are being intimidated and ignored.
A member of the electoral panel who expressed shock at the development explained to THEWILL anonymously that Oshiomhole called and spoke to the panel chairman and secretary to lower the bar and allow Ogboru implement his strategy to emerge winner of the election. “This is a charade. I am embarrassed to be a part of this electoral panel I can tell you… This is not the change we promised in 2015. Oshiomhole is a thug and will ruin whatever is left of our party’s reputation… The same way the party stole the Osun election last week,” the panel member said anonymously.
Ochei and Ojuogbo have left the venue in protest.
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