LG Polls: The mounting challenges Uduaghan must tackle

The seemingconfusion in the minds of political gladiators in Delta State over when thestate governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan will conduct local government polls isset to continue as there are mounting challenges facing the much anticipatedelections.

Just as thepoliticians waited in vain for the appointment of local government caretakercommittees, the obvious cloud surrounding when the local government polls willbe conducted appears to be getting thicker. Fresh Angle checks revealthat while politicians are warming up for the polls, the recent securitysituation in Warri and Effurun appears to have a political under-current.

Feelersindicate that the recent dare devil robbery in Warri and Effurun by a triggerhappy armed robbery gang which have killed a couple of persons, including a pregnantwoman, her hubby and sales girl at the Warri Main market may not be unconnectedwith the controversial killing of their kingpin, Chief Ogbe Onokpite in Uvwielocal government. There are speculations that these hoodlums who are usuallyclad in army uniform are on a vengeance mission and equally poised to keep themandate of their deceased leader, late Onokpite, who Fresh Angle gathered wasbent on ensuring victory for Democratic Peoples Party, DPP at the forthcominglocal government polls in Uvwie local government area. Speculations are rifethat the only PDP local government aspirant that the dare devil gang mayconsider for the Uvwie local government plum job is former Uvwie LG Caretaker boss,Dr. Robert Ejifoma, who they consider a true patriot and selfless leader.

Apart fromthe growing security challenge Governor Uduaghan must contend with in Uvwie andWarri South local government areas, the burden of taking care of the variouspolitical interests in the three Warri local government areas remains a majorchallenge.

Warri Southlocal government which is the political hub of party politics in Delta Southholds the easiest challenge for Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan. While the Governor andDr. Joseph Otumara are favourably disposed to the return of Hon. Matthew MofeEdema, the aspiration of Comrade Toluwa Mulade for the Warri South chairmanshipappears not to be threatening the PDP hierarchy. Investigations reveal thatdespite the initial reservation of some self styled political bigwigs in thearea against the return of Hon. Edema, no one within the PDP fold in the areahas publicly signify interest to contest against him.

Fresh Angle can also report that the realdaunting task before Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan as far as the impending poll isconcerned is who will clinch the PDP chairmanship ticket in Warri South Westand Warri North local government areas. It was not clear as at Press time ifthe immediate past chairman of Warri South West, Hon. George Ekpemupolo willindicate interest to re-contest against the Ijaw, Itsekiri rotation agreement,but his erstwhile secretary, Hon. Emmanuel Golly is poised to slug it out forthe PDP ticket. Hon. Golly’s aspiration will however face a threat from theUgborodo block in Warri South West who are bent on producing the next localgovernment chairman after Hon. David Tonwe who administered the council beforeHon. George Ekpemupolo. Itsekiris from the Bini Riverend of Warri South West where Hon. Emmanuel Golly hails from believe it istheir turn to produce the council’s next chairman, against the wishes of theirUgborodo counterparts.

Fresh Angle reliably gathered that in as much asthere is disquiet among political gladiators in that area, the reality willcome to the fore as soon as the state government announces a date for the localgovernment polls. While Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan will be confronted with theWarri South West challenge, the political battle in Warri North will also beanother hard nut to crack by PDP bigwigs. The immediate past council chairman,Hon. Godwin Toritsereju Ebosa who Fresh Angle gathered is poised tostage a return will have to contend with prominent Itsekiri youth leader andmember of Delta Waterways Security Committee, Comrade Omolubi Newuwumi.

A dark horseand entertainment guru, Mr. Andrew Agandi is also in the race for Warri Northtop job, despite being considered an outsider by some.

Politicalpundits are particularly waiting to see how Governor Uduaghan will tackle thesegrowing challenges as well as others in the fast approaching local governmentpolls.

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