By Yahaya Idris, Delta
The Delta State All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirants Forum has joined the chorus calling for the National and State party leaders to establish an investigative committee to assess the roles of various leaders in the recent general election, particularly the governorship election that resulted in the party’s loss to the opposition.
Chief Mathias Efe Olowu, National Chairman of the forum, revealed at a press conference in Agbarho, Ughelli North local government area, September 30, that despite the electorate’s support for the party’s candidate, the mandate was usurped by unscrupulous elements pursuing personal vendettas.
According to the Forum Chairman, the purported score-settling is merely a facade for personal aggrandizement and self-serving interests that take precedence over party loyalty. It begs the question: if genuine grievances existed, why would an individual collect compensation from the very same party flagbearer they claimed to oppose, only to betray the party’s trust?
The Forum resolves to establish an Enquiry Mechanism tasked with examining the leadership roles and performances of officials within their wards and Local Government Areas, with a focus on the governorship election.
Following this, the forum expressed strong disapproval of the Reconciliation Team’s formation, which aimed to reconcile and address grievances within the party.
“Who are the parties involved in the reconciliation process? Which individuals have expressed grievances and desire reconciliation? What parameters will guide the selection of those deemed aggrieved? Does this include individuals who have profited from party appointments and received large sums of money that remained unspent during the election?”
“For the party to truly reconcile, it must start by reconciling with forum members, major stakeholders who have financially supported grassroots mobilization efforts since 2015, only to be overlooked for appointments, empowerment opportunities, and contracts.”
“Frankly speaking, the state party leadership has been ineffective; their primary focus is personal gain, with little concern for the party’s overall well-being.”
Ultimately, rather than pursuing superficial reconciliation efforts, it is essential to establish robust evaluation mechanisms to scrutinize party leadership roles and penalize the culpable through expulsion.
Chief Mathias Efe Olowu
National Chairman, Hon Asobi OYEMIKE, National Secretary
