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…Says UPU Acted Ultra Vires Over Edevbie’s Kangaroo Endorsement.
Coalition for Media Politics and Governance, CMPG, has said that a Lagos based ethnic group, Oja R’Urhobo 2023, lacks legal and moral justification to compel Delta State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to recognize and accept Olorogun David Edevbie as the preferred candidate of Urhobo Progress Union, UPU.
The Coalition’s position was contained in a statement on Thursday 12th May, by its Chairman, Chief Dr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe Esq, and State Publicity Secretary, Hon Tagbarha Malcolm and made available to newsmen in Asaba.
CMPG berated Oja R’Urhobo 2023 over an advertorial in one of the national newspapers wherein it reaffirmed UPU’s illegal and provocative adoption of a governorship aspirant under PDP, describing the Urhobo group as incarnation of the crucified DC-23 Lobby Group in Delta State.
The group which is an affiliate of PDP, posited that UPU as Urhobo sociocultural union acted ultra vires its powers by interfering in the internal electioneering affairs of PDP, adding that UPU is not known to law as a political pressure group and must remain apolitical.
It noted that leaders and executive members of PDP in Delta Central Senatorial District had in a statement published in several national newspapers nullified and/or repudiated the said unwarranted adoption of Edevbie by UPU, and subsequently urged ethnic unions and sociocultural organisations in Delta State and beyond, to refrain from adopting and/or endorsing aspirants under the party across board.
CMPG further averred that the adoption of Edevbie by UPU was widely condemned and rejected by PDP leaders and members across the three senatorial districts, on the ground that the party had assured all governorship aspirants of a level playing field, to enable the most popular and competent aspirant emerge as the party’s gubernatorial candidate in the state.
“The issue of UPU endorsement of any governorship aspirant under PDP has been laid to rest, dead, buried and long forgotten by Deltans and PDP.
“Endorsement of Olorogun David Edevbie cannot again be revisited by Oja R’Urhobo 2023, because the group lacked the legal and moral justification to dabble into the internal affairs of PDP.
“There are several governorship aspirants from Urhobo nation of Delta Central Senatorial District, who are also experienced public servants, boardroom experts and eminently qualified, including the Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, JP.
“Edevbie as a member of PDP is aware that the party’s gubernatorial candidate shall emerge on 23rd May, in a free, fair, transparent and credible primaries. He should get ready to test his popularity on that day.
“No ethic group or union has been mandated or given a green light to assist PDP in the conduct of primaries. Oja R’Urhobo has no social or political relationship with PDP, and cannot dictate to the party on the choice of who becomes her Guber candidate in this dispensation.
“In terms of popularity, deep rooted connections with eligible voters and people at the grassroots, and within PDP, Rt Hon Sheriff Francis Oborevwori, is far ahead of Edevbie,” CMPG added.
