Delta: Man facing rape, murder charges, picked as PDP Ward Chairman

The leadership of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State, has reportedly appointed one Mr. Iloba Obata, who is allegedly facing charges of rape, double murder, and armed robbery.                                    

He was reportedly appointed chairman for Ward 2 and DISEC Ward 16.

In a letter dated May 14, 2024, addressed to Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, numerous political and ward leaders in Aniocha South Local Government, expressed their discontent with the purported imposition of Mr. Obata. 

They alleged that Mr. Obata was undergoing trial at the Delta State High Court for separate cases involving murder, rape, arson, and armed robbery. 

The Delta State Ministry of Justice, through its Director of Public Prosecution, purportedly indicted Mr. Obata in Charge numbers A/6c/2023 and A/62c/2023 for the offenses. 

The trials are before Court 3 and Court 4 at the Delta State High Courts in Asaba. 

The letter, which was also copied to Delta State PDP Chairman, Olorogun Barrister Kingsley Esiso and other senior PDP officials at both local and state levels, emphasized the community's frustration. 

One of the signatories criticized the alleged unilateral decision made by Hon. Paschal Adigwe, stating that there was no consultation or adherence to due process, and that the decision was made through intimidation. 

The signatory remarked, "Paschal Adigwe, who lost his own polling station in the last election, is imposing a murder, armed robbery and rape suspect undergoing trials as the chairman of Ward 2. This is a complete embarrassment to our party and our community. Pascal claims that Mr. Obata will be used as a political enforcer to intimidate members of the community to vote for PDP. However, those days of voter intimidation and suppression are over. We must win votes based on our agenda for the people. They have used political connections to secure Mr. Obata's bail from Hon. Justice Azinge of Court 4 in Asaba in time for the local government elections, but this may backfire on the PDP as everyone in Aniocha South knows about Iloba Obata’s antecedents."

The letter's signatories, including former Aniocha South Local Government Chairman, Chief Barrister Ojeogu, have called on the PDP leadership to address the situation created by Paschal Adigwe to prevent further disgrace and embarrassment for the party in Aniocha South Local Government.

Efforts to reach Mr. Iloba Obata for his reaction to the letter were unsuccessful as at press time.

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