POLITICAL Leaders in Ward 11, Cable Point, Asaba, Oshimili South Local Government Area, Delta State, have declared that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ward Congress held last weekend was peaceful and successful, commending the Chairman of PDP in the area, Ogbueshi Dada Okonji and his lieutenants for demonstrating leadership.
Addressing journalists, on Sunday, in reaction to a media report that the congress in Ward 11 was a farce as the party’s leadership in the local government was absent, the trio of former Chairman of Oshimili South Local Government, Hon. Chinedu Okafor, and the Special Assistant (SA) to the Governor, Alhaji Auwalu Tukur, and Alhaji Muktari Usman, and said that the purveyors of the false news were disenchanted individuals, some of who boycotted the well-attended exercise.
Specifically, they debunked the views expressed by the Chairman of the Rural Development Agency (RDA) Engr. Smart Meka that there was no congress, asserting that a congress, supervised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was held at Ogbe-Olie Primary School, Cable-Point, Asaba, in the presence of the local government party chairman, Ogbueshi Okonji, the Secretary, Franca Osiambgi, Chairman of Oshimili South Local Government, Chief Kelvin Ezenyili, ward returning officer, ward party leaders and PDP faithful, security agents, and non-indigenes from the Igbo, Hausa, Ogbaru, Ibira, Igala, Nupe, Kakanda, Yoruba etc in Ward 11.
According to Hon Okafor, the exercise was well-attended by stakeholders in the ward, adding that following the PDP Constitution, the former EXCO was dissolved by a motion moved by Alhaji Muktar Usman and seconded by Hon Eugene Chukwurah.
He also stressed that Alhaji Auwalu Tukur moved a motion for the return of the elected officers which, was seconded by Comrade Otakpo, before the Returning Officer declared them winners.
According to Alhaji Tukur said the congress was held and winners were announced, according to the PDP guidelines, adding that there was video evidence to show that those saying there was no election were in attendance.
In his submission, Alhaji Muktari Usman disclosed Mr. Smart Meka came to the congress, after greetings and handshakes, left, and requested that he should be called when the party chairman came around, but he never showed up.
