Sheriff is authentic PDP chairman says chieftain

Delta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain Kris Oputa spoke with Reporters on the effects of the protracted crisis on the electoral chances of the party.

The PDP is factionalised. which faction do you belong?

My allegiance is to the Ali Modu Sheriff Camp .He is the authentic chairman of the PDP. The PDP has only one chairman. I belong firmly in his camp.

In Ndokwa East, there appears to be a standoff between you and some powerful elements in the PDP who are sponsoring another candidate. what's your take on this?

The Ndokwa East people are tired of the imposition of candidates. In the last eight years, we have not had a candidate of our choice. So, the people are unhappy, and this has been causing problem in the local government area. After a PDP congress was fixed, I went round consulting with leaders of Ndokwa East, but before the PDP primaries, a cabal handpicked a candidate, but a big protest ensued by our leaders, youths and women, and at a tribunal, an appeal panel set up by Ali Modu Sheriff visited Asaba and the 25 local government areas chairmen were summoned because the problem of imposition cut across all the 25 L.G.A's. Delta State was among the six states whose results were cancelled as there were no congress in the state. The report of the appeal panel favoured me but the State PDP refused to release the result and we further took our protests to Abuja and our complaints were looked into and my victory was upheld. Keep in mind that in the last few weeks state executives were inaugurated in Abuja by Ali Modu Sheriff. Chief Austin Ogbaburhon was elected Delta PDP chairman. The executives at the local government levels across the State were inaugurated by the PDP Deputy Southsouth Chairman, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh. So anyone parading himself as PDP chairman in Ndokwa East is wasting his time because the Ali Modu Sheriff PDP faction is the authentic chairman recognised by law. The due process was followed in inaugurating us. The PDP executive council cannot inaugurate itself; they must get their blessing from the national level .As I speak I have commenced the process of inaugurating PDP ward executives in Ndokwa East L.G.A .Last week I went to Aboh to inaugurate L.G.A executive, following which I will inaugurate the executive in the ten wards of the L.G.A.

Who are the cabal opposing you in the local government area?

The cabal that picked one Ugo Asimuelue as the PDP chairman in Ndokwa East are jittery because they are just a few. Almost 95 per cent of the leaders and youths are not with them. Before the elections, at a meeting in Agbor, Governor Okowa urged everyone to go back to their respective L.G.As. Leaders were appointed to screen the candidates vying for chairmanship and that, if there was no consensus candidate, a primary should be conducted to select the popular choice. But to the chagrin of the leaders of the area Chief Godson Obielum and Delta Deputy Speaker Friday Osanebi went ahead to impose a candidate without any primaries conducted. These two discredited leaders are imposing a candidate against the will of the people of Ndokwa East.

Why do you think these two persons are disobeying Governor Okowa's directive?

They are aware that their candidate is unpopular and if they allow an open contest, their candidate will lose. the persons mentioned above obviously want Governor Okowa to lose the 2019 Delta gubernatorial elections. These persons are not founding members of the party in the L.G.A. they have nothing to lose.

Are you prepared to stake your claim as the authentic and popular candidate against these powerful personalities in your local government.

I have told you that I have inaugurated the L.G.A executive, following I will inaugurate all the ward executives. My executives will move round the L.G.A to see the leaders and try to bring everyone back into the party.

Posted via Festechvibes panels.