Advocate.ng Latest news update on politics, entertainment, sport and more
———–By Akpos Oghenetega————–
There is a palpable fear among stakeholders and leaders of the All Progressive Congress, APC in Delta State following an alleged plan by the Minister for State Petroleum, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu to handover the party to the state governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa to complete Delta North second tenure.
ADVOCATE gathered that Kachikwu which is considered in some quarters as the leader of the party in the state is bent on ensuring that Delta North complete its second term come 2019 on the platform of the APC.
Sources close to the Minister told ADVOCATE that Kachikwu, who supported Governor Okowa financially in the build up to the 2017 election, wants to ensure that he fully recoups his huge investment on the governor and also ensure that he completes his second term in office.
The source added, “not sure of any other candidates that can match the PDP political structure and defeat Okowa in 2019, Kachikwu decided to bring the governor to APC with the promise that the party ticket and structure will be handed over to him if he comes over with the PDP structure.”
As part of the move to prepare the ground for governor Okowa and Chief James Ibori crossing over to the APC, the Minister through his proxy in the APC have ensured that the crisis rocking the party continues in order to paint a picture of a weak structure that is incapable of dislodging the PDP come 2019.
It was alleged that the state party chairman, Prophet Jones Erue and other was directed by the Minister to stop further attacks on the policies and programmes of the Okowa-led government, after the party through its Acting Publicity Secretary, Engr. Leo Obibi launched series of attacks on the government unpopular policies.
Okowa, not too sure of what may play out should a strong and more credible APC candidate emerged in 2019 and following the unending crisis of the PDP at the national level, bought into the persuasion Dr. Kachikwu to move into the APC.
Another source, who is an APC chieftain from Delta central who pleaded anonymity stated that the National leadership of the party has bought into the idea of handing over the party to Okowa in the absences of any formidable aspirants on the platform of the party in Delta; noting that, what is important is that the party takes control of Delta state.
Faced with this possible loss of political based, some of the displaced leaders of the party in the unfolding political equation have been running from pillar to post to prevent the inevitable from happening.
ADVOCATE further gathered that there have been realignment between the Great Ogboru, Victor Ochie and Olorogun O’tega Emerhor came in a last minute effort to save the party from been handed over to Ibori political dynasty.
