By Lucky Uto
A fresh crisis is brewing in the Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of Tuesday’s State Congress, as a chairmanship aspirant, Ebiakpo Ezebri, has accused Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of influencing the zoning of the State Chairman position and imposing a candidate.
In a press statement issued on Sunday, Ezebri alleged that the decision to zone the State Chairman position to Delta South was taken against an earlier agreement reached by party leaders and stakeholders.
He further claimed that a former Delta PDP Chairman was being imposed as the preferred candidate.
According to Ezebri, the development goes against the principles of fairness, internal democracy, and due process. He warned that such actions could weaken party unity at a critical time.
He said party stakeholders had earlier agreed on a zoning and consensus arrangement to promote inclusiveness and balance.
However, he alleged that recent decisions were taken without proper consultation, including among aspirants who had met all constitutional requirements to contest.
Ezebri disclosed that he purchased his nomination form for ₦1,050,000 and paid all necessary party dues.
He maintained that he and other aspirants deserved transparency and fairness, especially after investing time and resources in building the party.
He also alleged that some key meetings were held without inviting all affected aspirants, describing the move as unfair and capable of undermining confidence in the process.
While stressing that he was not acting out of desperation, Ezebri said his position was based on principle.
He stated that internal democracy is vital to the survival of any political party and that no individual should override collective agreements reached in good faith.
He urged party leaders to review the situation and ensure that the process follows the party’s constitution and reflects equity and fairness.
Despite his concerns, Ezebri reaffirmed his loyalty to the APC and his commitment to participating in a free, fair, and transparent contest.
As of press time, efforts to get an official response from the Delta APC leadership and the state government were ongoing.
