APC Split Into Four Groups Over Appointment

The crises rocking the Delta State chapter of the All Progressive Congress, APC has taken a new dimension as the party finally split into four main groups.

Recall that there had been protest against the various appointments made by the President Muhammadu Buhari in Delta State especially the NDDC board appointment.

Tension rose when president Muhammadu Buhari appointed Bar. Festus Keyamo as Minister of state Niger Delta but now as Minister of state Labour and Employment.

Although Festus Keyamo has been working closely with Mr. President in Abuja, Delta APC members regard him as an Abuja politician who does not have touch with the grassroot.

99% of APC members in Delta don’t know his house and how to reach him.

Even his ward people don’t know him. it is the believe of Delta APC members that such person should have been appointed as special adviser to the president on legal matters or any other appointment that will keep him around his usual abode in Abuja.

APC members had expected that the president will appoint either the governorship candidate of the APC Chief Great Ogboru with large followers in Delta State or Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan , former governor of Delta State who equally has large followers across the state.

While the party was still mourning the loss of the ministerial appointment to an Abuja based Festus Keyamo, the greatest shocker occurred with the appointment of Benard Okumagba who worked for PDP in the 2019 general elections.

Benard Okumagba who didn’t attend APC campaign rallies in Delta and never participated in any campaign activities throughout the electioneering period was picked as NDDC MD designate to the shock and disbelief of party faithfuls.

This left party members with no other option than to drag Mr. President to various courts to stop the screening and confirmation of Mr. Benard Okumagba and Dr. Pius Odubu on two grounds :

1. That the appointment of Dr. Pius Odubu contravenes the NDDC act which provides that the rotation of the position of the chairman shall be in alphabetic order.

In line with the provisions of the act, it is the turn of Delta State to produce the chairman of the board

2. That Benard Okumagba is not from any known oil producing community in Delta State .

These actions were fueled by the fact that the Deputy senate president Senator Ovie Omo-agege is from the Urhobo ethnic nationality, the minister Bar. Festus Keyamo is from Urhobo ethnic nationality and Benard Okumagba is also from Urhobo ethnic nationality, leaving all other tribes and senatorial district without appointment.

The Itsekiris, Ijaws, anioma and Isokos became frustrated which led to the filing of suits in various courts to challenge the appointment.

Having discovered that the DSP is taking undue advantage of his office to influence appointment only to his chronicles, other leaders in the party rose against the DSP which led to the splitting of the party into four camps viz: Ogboru faction, Omo-agege faction, Uduaghan faction and Otega Emerhor faction. Other allegation against the Deputy Senate president is that he is working with PDP to frustrate the APC governorship election petition to pave way for him to contest in 2023.

If nothing is done by the presidency to calm frayed nerves, APC may finally pack up in Delta State before 2023.

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