Controversy Trails Delta PDP Primaries, Members Threaten To Blow Up Flow Stations

Protests and counter-protests have continued to trail the Delta State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following what has been described as an imposition of candidates on members of the party.
According to reports,the imposition took place during the party’s recent councillorship and chairmanship initiatives at local government primaries across the state. Some PDP members accuse Dr. Idodo Umeh, the one-time commissioner for education in the defunct Bendel State, of manipulating the proceedings.
Youth leaders allege the party’s leadership has failed to accept and respect the people’s choice of Mr. Harrison Ohori and Mr. Emmanuel Okugbe Pender.
Aggrieved PDP members have gone so far as to threaten to blow up the flow station in the area should the party continue to go against the popular wishes of the people of the community.
Speaking during a mass protest at the headquarters of the Isoko South Coucil, a youth leader, named Orerioghnene, warned party leadership to acknowledge the public’s endorsement of Mr. Ohori and Mr. Pender leading up to the October elections.
“These two men are the preferred PDP candidates in their part of Delta,” Orerioghnene said.
Also leading the Olomoro placard-carrying protesters, one Mrs. Stella Ejeh furthered the flow station threat, warning that unless the party accepts the rightful candidates, they would have no option than to storm the local flow station. She also accused Dr. Umeh of wanting to cause a crisis in the peaceful community.
Movement leaders also claim that the Hon. Johnson Erijo, a member of the State Assembly, and others connected to Dr. Umeh, were complicit in manipulating the recent councillorship primary.
Angered members of the party further lashed out against the “scripted” proceedings, promising to defect to the opposition party if the public’s choice is not recognized.
“(We) may have to join the opposition, if the over-reaching attitude of the cabal controlling the political benefits of the community is not nipped in the bud,” one said.
The mass protest has continued to trail the outcome of the primaries in Warri North, Warri South West, Ughelli South, Uwvie, Patani, Aniocha South, Ethiope East and West, Sapele, and Burutu, among other councils.
In a meeting with PDP stakeholders, Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan had warned members of the party to “remain united”, as the PDP will not accept party defectors.
During what became an emotional meeting, the governor continued to push for party solidarity, saying, “It will be difficult to win the LG poll in Delta without a PDP ticket.”