Exclusive: Committee blames imposition, emergence of APC for dismal outing in Warri Bye-Election

The last may not have been heard regarding the outcome of the April 26, 2017 Warri South Constituency 1 Bye-Election that was won by Princess (Mrs.) Shola Ogbemi Daibo of the ‘Accord Party’ as a six-man committee set up by Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has blamed factors such as the manner which saw the emergence of Shola Daibo  as “Accord Party” candidate, the emergence of the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC and “tendencies to shortchange party field-workers at the wards and units” as some reasons for the dismal outing of the hugely contested poll.

The six-man committee made up of Sir Dandy Idundun, Mr. Michael Tidi, Chief Israel Abido, Hon. Griftson Omatsuli, Ms Grace Yomere and Mr. Andrew Megbele, took written memorandum and oral presentations from PDP leaders in Warri South such as Chief Joseph Otumara, Hon. Dennis Omovie of Delta State House of Assembly, Delta State Deputy Chairman of PDP, Barr. Ada Val Arenyeka, Delta State Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Vincent Uduaghan, Political Adviser to Governor Okowa, Hon. Omimi Esquire and Mrs. Gbubemi Kpenosen Ikolo.

Despite INEC data showing 71, 089 registered voters in the six wards that make up Warri South Constituency 1 as at April 26, 2017 when the Bye-Election was held, the eventual winner, Princess (Mrs.) Shola Daibo polled less than 6,000 votes, a situation that caused PDP leadership in Delta State serious anxiety, thus necessitating the setting up of the committee by Dr. Okowa, especially as the 2019 general election inches closer.

Report of the six-man committee obtained by your Soar-Away Newspaper, Fresh Angle International revealed that the eventual outcome of the Bye-Election indeed sent jitters down the spines of PDP leaders in Delta State, especially those in Warri South Local Government Area, who hitherto decided the winners of previous polls in the State with huge block votes.

Fresh Angle International can authoritatively report that sections of the report which speaks of unease among PDP leaders is stated inter-alia, “it was recounted that the security personnel were not under the direct control of political leaders in Warri South as was the usual order, thus handicapping the leaders in making swift intervention when the need arose”, adding “the process which saw her (Shola Daibo) emerging as consensus candidate, though constitutionally okay could impede internal democracy in the party, going forward”.

The report also noted, “suffice to mention the disenchantment of some party faithful on the present administration (Okowa administration) as one monster the party (PDP -Accord-PDP) needs to contend with as a matter of urgency from written and oral presentation, it appears a time bomb is waiting to explode”.

Another aspect of the six-man panel report that sat for four weeks that is intriguing declared thus, “the participation of other political leaders from neighbouring Warri North and Warri South-West Local Government Areas in assisting to prosecute the Bye-Election was though commended by the stakeholders, but was perceived as clear contradiction and distortion of existing structure, hitherto managed by Warri South LGA leaders. Rather than complement the existing structure on ground, they seemingly hijacked the entire process for reasons best known to them”.

While stressing that “imposition of candidates should be shunned” in subsequent elections as 2019 draws nearer, the Okowa panel quipped, “we recommend further that the Obodo axis and Ubeji axis with its wide geographical spread should be considered as separate wards and funds allotted accordingly”.

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