By Godwin-Maria Utuedoye
All seems not to be well within the PDP in Ugjelli North local government area as notable members of the party who are members of the Delta Unity Group, described as the intellectual arm within the PDP supporting Olorogun David Edevbie were visibly absent today, during the inauguration of the Ughelli North Constituency I and II, Campaign Management Committee in Ughelli North local government area of Delta state.
Key PDP members absent included Olorogun David Edevbie, Prof. Patrick Muoboghare, Chief Pius Ovbije (PO), Hon. Prince Eric Oharisi and other notable leaders.
Olorogun David Edevbie who came second during the PDP primaries, had been on a legal battle with the PDP candidate, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori challenging discrepancies in his credentials, but the supreme put the case to a rest in favour of Rt. Hon. Sheriff Francis Oborevwori.
Though, Olorogun David Edevbie did congratulates the PDP candidate after the supreme court verdict, but a source close to the group revealed that Edevbie is back in court in a suit he joined as a defender and challenging the identity of the PDP candidate.
Their absence today may not be unconnected with the wrangling in the party as another source also disclosed that some key members of the PDP has vowed to stand firmly behind their principal, Edevbie.
Hon. Eric Oharisi, member representing Ughelli North II at the Delta State House of Assembly and Prof Patrick Muoboghare were strong supporters and followers of David Edevbie Modernization Agenda.
Though, it could not be confirmed why the PDP top notch were absent at the event held at the Ughelli central garage, but there were indications that the crisis in the party is getting deeper.
While calling on party faithful to vote massively for PDP, chairman Ughelli North Local Government Council, Chief Godwin Adode did state, that he will get back to them when the party decide who becomes the authentic House of Representative candidate, but few weeks back, the Independent National Electoral Commissions INEC, did include the name of Olorogun Taleb Tebite as the candidate of the party for Ughelli North, Ughelli South and and Udu Federal Constituency.
A PDP faithful in Ughelli North who expressed discomfort over the noticeable absence said, “All is not well if they are not present in the gathering of this magnitude, and we have more work to do by reconciling all aggrieved party members.
“It is not about constituting and inaugurating committees, but let the leadership of the party shun pride and fix the crisis. These people you may feel are not important, but may thwart the party efforts in one way or the other.”
It could be recalled that David Edevbie while hosting his supporters at Afiesere sometime ago did said, “The politics have already been played but it has not ended, We are still fighting and it is not yet over, we are not tired but resting,
“We remain at this time within the PDP and it is their choice to come and talk to us and tell us what they have for us. The position at the national level is almost unclear.
Addressing the committee, the Ughelli North Local Government campaign coordinator, Barr Samuel Marierie disclosed that the campaign committee for the local government, which according to him was over 1800 persons was splits into two, Ughelli Constituency I and Ughelli Constituency II since it had two candidates contesting the State Assembly seats in the local government.
He explained that, having just a single campaign committee would make it difficult for the party to properly campaign for both candidates as they will have different movement schedules, adding that with two separate committees it would be easier and more effective in mobilizing the electorates to vote PDP candidates across board.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the committee, Barr. Jaro Egbo has boasted that the PDP is going to win all elective offices in the constituency’s.
Egbo said, “We are here to sign an accord, that today, with God being our witness, we shall witness victory to victory. It’s going to be PDP all the way. It’s going to be PDP for president, PDP for governor, PDP for the Senate, PDP for house of Assembly and PDP for house of representatives. It’s going to be PDP all the way.
“Our Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa is going to run with Atiku and we are going to produce the vice president from Delta state. Not only that, for the first time, we are going to have a home grown governor, with full local content. A governor that is complete Urhobo, the mother is Urhobo, the father is Urhobo, the wife is also Urhobo, he is Rt Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori.