A COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF A MEETING OF OSHIMILI SOUTH PDP CHAIRMANSHIP ASPIRANTS HELD AT ASABA ON 17TH JANUARY 2021

PREAMBLE:
The controversy sourounding the failure of Oshimili South PDP to conduct a primary election to produce the flag bearer of the party in the local government election slated for March 6th 2021 has become a source of concern to PDP faithfuls in council area particularly the youths who constitute about 70% of party members in the local government. Prior to the release of electoral guidelines by the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission, six chairmanship aspirants have indicated interest to contest the chairmanship position under the Peoples Democratic Party and they include: The immediate past chairman of the council, Comrade Uche Osadebe, the Vice chairman, Hon. Sunny Obi, Ebeodi Eluaka, Tobe Okonkwo, Darlinton Ijieh and Obi Kelvin Ezeyinly.
All six aspirants have consulted widely among party stakeholders and openly declared there intention to the party at their various ward levels.
However, the clandestine move of the party chairman in the LGA to impose an aspirant on the people without a primary election led to the secrete release of a single nomination form to the said aspirant thereby denying other five aspirants of their inalienable right to contest for the chairmanship which is a gross violation of the party's constitution and the electoral act as amended.
These undemocratic actions which is unprecedented in the history of local government election in Oshimili South PDP has necessitated a meeting of all Oshimili South PDP chairmanship aspirants with a view to taking a position on the matter and calling on the appropriate authority to disregard any name submitted by Oshimili south PDP untill nomination forms are sold to other five PDP chairmanship aspirants and a primary election is duly conducted to select a flag bearer for the party.
OBSERVATION:
The following observations were made by the chairmanship aspirants at the meeting:
1. In exercising our inalienable right to vote and be voted for as enshrined in the constitution of the party, the electoral act and the 1999 constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria as ammended, we have consulted widely among party stakeholders and beyond and we have indicated our interest to vie for the chairmanship position of Oshimili South local government through our great party , the People's Democratic Party.
2. We have equally met all the criteria for contesting the election under the People's Democratic Party and the DESIEC guidelines for local government Chairmanship election.
3. At no time did all of us who are aspiring for the chairmanship position agree to step down for Obi Kelvin Ezeyinli
4. The Sale of a single nomination form to only one aspirant in an LGA with six aspirants is an affront on our nacent democracy and a desecration of our party that was founded on the principle of impecable electoral values and constitutional democracy.

RESOLUTION
After an extensive deliberation on the subject matter, the following resolutions were made:
1. That the LGA chapter of the party should commence the sale of nomination forms to all aspirants aspiring for the position within seven days.
2. All actions taken in respect of the Chairmanship election by the party should be cancelled pending when a primary election is conducted.
3. That the state Independent Electoral Commission should disregard whatever name submited to it by Oshimili South PDP as candidate of the party because as it stands, the PDP has not yet produce a candidate in Oshimili South.
4. The state Working committee should equally disregard the puported primary election and direct the LGA chapter to conduct a primary election within seven days.
5. His Excellency Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa who is the leader of the party in the state should
urgently intervene on the matter to save the party in the LGA from losing the 2023 election as a result of these undemocratic tendencies.
6. The party stand the risk of not participating in the election if a primary election is not conducted to determine the flag bearer of the party.
7. Finally, we will be left with no other option than to approach the court to seek redress if our demands are not met within seven days.
Signed:
1. Comrade Uche Osadebe
2. Hon. Sunny Obi
3. Ebeodi Eluaka
4. Tobe Okonkwo
5. Darlinton Ijieh.

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