Delta group rejects zoning of assembly seat, tasks Okowa on free primary

Chairman of Concerned Ughelli South Youths for Good Governance (CUSYGG), Mr. Akpokiboro Ediyere, has called on the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State to provide a level-playing ground for all aspirants to the House of Assembly from Ughelli South.

In a chat with newsmen in Asaba yesterday, Ediyere faulted a statement allegedly credited to the state chairman of the party, Chief Kingsley Esiso, suggesting that Ughelli South House of Assembly seat had been zoned to Jeremi.

Describing proponents of zoning in Ughelli South as clannish and selfish, he urged leaders of the party not to allow themselves to be used by ethnic bigots to throw up inexperienced and ineffective representatives for the constituency in the state legislature in 2019.

While reiterating that the Assembly seat has never been zoned, he said: “Ughelli South people need quality representation in the state legislature at this critical time in our political history. We have never zoned the House of Assembly seat in Ughelli South. We are one indivisible people; we should not allow people to play on our sentiments. We must continue to sustain the unity existing in the council.”

He called on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to “appeal to the conscience of our political leaders to throw the primaries open to all contestants, irrespective of where they hail from within the council. The governor, who is a product of free and fair primary election, should talk to the party hierarchy to provide a level-playing ground for all the aspirants where the most popular and acceptable will emerge as PDP flag-bearer.”