Okpozo group plots to stop new entrants into Delta APC, says SEC

By Ovasa Ogaga,–Delta

The Delta State Chapter of the All Progressives Progress (APC) has revealed that the recent agitation by some few APC Elders led by Senator Francis Okpozo, calling for the dissolution of the State Executive Committee is as a result of the recent decision taking on June 6, 2016 by the SEC of the party and the ongoing arrangements to welcome Chief Great Ogboru, former Speaker Hon Victor Ochei, their teeming supporters and other PDP, ACCORD and SDP stalwarts into the party.

In a press statement signed by its Legal Adviser, Barrister Valentine Onojeghuo and State Secretary, Comrade Chidi Okonji, the party further stated that the so-called Delta ‘State Elders and Leaders Group’ organised by Senator Okpozo rejected the idea of welcoming these new entrants into the party at a time President Muhammadu Buhar is yet to release the names of board appointments.

The statement added that It is the view of the agitators that the party ought to wait so as not to short-change old members, for the fear that the new comers may out stage them on federal board appointment slots.

According to the party, “This recent actions by this group of “Leaders” is in fact a well camouflaged yet direct attack aimed to stall the recent progress being made by the State Exco to open up the party and welcome new entrants.

“The APC in Delta State has for the past few months set up the machinery to welcome into its fold major and key opposition leaders with a view to claiming the state from PDP in 2019. Such key leaders include Chief Great Ogboru and the whole of his erstwhile Labour party structure; Hon Victor Ochei (former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly) and his erstwhile governorship structure in the state; Party stalwarts from PDP, ACCORD, and SDP.

“The State Exco only on June 6, 2016, at a well attended expanded SEC meeting, received and adopted the report of its Welcoming Committee, earlier set up at its February meeting, and also approved resolutions and a timetable for the admission of the new entrants.

“The SEC approved that new members registration is to commence at each ward for a two weeks period in June, a Joint old and new APC Leaders visit to the National secretariat of APC in late June, and a Grand Reception Rally to receive the new entrants and challenge PDP, in early July.

The statement also added; “Deviously, however, every of these “leaders” failed and\or refused to attend these SEC meetings. Instead each and every one of them, one way or the other, tried to discourage the Exco from moving ahead with its plans to admit the new entrants.

“Their insistence was that any admission of such new and strong persons and groups must wait until all federal board appointments are concluded as they fear their position could be taken by the new comers.

“Not listening or deferring to them became the new sin of the State Exco. To know that they will go this far to try and blackmail the Exco and national to dissolve the State Exco in other to achieve their purpose is alarming and shameful.”

The party also insist it will go ahead with the planned welcoming of the new entrants and that the timetable for welcoming new entrants is intact and shall be followed strictly, adding that Delta state SEC is focused on preparing and reinventing the party and its strategies for the task ahead, which is to dislodge PDP from Delta State.

It also assured party faithfuls and the new entrants coming into the party that there is no cause for alarm.