By Austin Ogwuda
THE lingering internal crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State has assumed another dimension following Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru’s re-entry into the APC despite his rejection from his home base.
The Elders and Leaders of the All Progressives Congress in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State had few days ago vehemently kicked against Chief Ogboru re-entry into the Party, accusing him of allegedly planning to sabotage the chances of the Party, ahead of 2027.
This weighty allegation was contained in a Press Statement signed by Chief Barr. G. S Avwunudiogba, Chairman, Ethiope East APC Elders and Leaders Forum; Chief Julius Ogboru, Chairman, Ethiope East APC; Hon. Chief Barr. Obukohwo Joseph Oshevire, Former Member, Delta State House of Assembly (DTHA) and the Legal Adviser, Ethiope East Elders and Leaders Forum, and Ufuoma Raymond Edjeba, Secretary, APC Elders and Leaders Forum.
They claimed that Ogboru’s return was, in the first place, not authorized by the Ward Chairman, who is the only person empowered by the Party’s constitution to issue membership cards.
It stated that “Ogboru’s history of Party hopping and his recent collaboration with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to sabotage the APC’s chances in the 2023 governorship election make his return to the party suspect.
“What is equally disturbing”, according to the statement, “is Ogboru’s recent hobnobbing with the PDP, which was rewarded with appointments for Senior Special Assistance (SSA), Personal Assistance (PA), and other positions for some of his loyal supporters by the Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori government, whom he will be leaving behind as he would appear to be coming alone.
“This is a clear indication that Ogboru’s return to the APC is not genuine, but rather a strategic move to further his own interests.
We are urging party members to remain vigilant and focused on the task of building a strong and united APC in Ethiope East while calling on the party’s national leadership to take note of Ogboru’s antecedents and to ensure that he does not undermine the party’s efforts in the future.
“We will not tolerate any act of sabotage or disloyalty from anyone, including Ogboru. We will continue to work tirelessly to build a strong and united APC in Ethiope East, and we will not allow anyone to undermine our efforts”, the statement added.
But in a swift reaction, the APC leadership said that Ogboru’s re-entry would be a great boost to the Party ahead of 2027, thus dismissing the claim from the Ethiope East Elders/Leaders Forum.
Delta State APC Publicity Secretary, Barrister Valentine Onojeghuo in a press statement said that “the publication made by some so-called leaders of the Ethiope East against Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru’s re-entry into the APC, are aimed at causing unnecessary disaffection within the Party”.
The statement further reads, “It is laughable that a group of individuals who lack the requisite constitutional authority, but are driven by personal and parochial political interests, should arrogate to themselves the power to dictate the terms under which any person is permitted to join or, for that matter, rejoin the Party. That privilege is and always will remain the exclusive reserve of the National Working Committee of the Party.”
“Without a scintilla of doubt, Chief Great Ogboru is a household name and a major political force in Delta State. His decision to rejoin the APC is a welcome development that will strengthen our Party’s structure and enhance our prospects ahead of future political engagements. We view the attempt to undermine his re-entry by the so-called “Ethiope East elders and leaders” as a desperate ploy by those who feel threatened by his towering political influence and re-entry, which is not only undemocratic but also runs contrary to the unity and progress of the Party in Delta, and we will seriously resist it.”
“Chief Ogboru’s re-entry is a testament to the growing strength and appeal of our Party in Delta State, which is presently experiencing exponential expansion due to the unprecedented influx of new members defecting daily from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party into our fold, as we are focused on promoting internal democracy and ensuring that all members—both old and new—are given equal opportunities to participate in the Party affairs as joint stakeholders without intimidation or discrimination.
“APC is a party governed by laws, not by personal sentiments or the whimsical arbitrariness of autocratic tendencies displayed by any individual. Any attempts to sabotage or disrupt Chief Great Ogboru’s re-entry will be considered an act of gross misconduct, and the Party will not hesitate to take severe disciplinary measures against those engaging in such unconstitutional behavior, as no individual or group has the authority to override the Party’s constitutional provisions.”
“Delta APC reaffirms its resolute commitment to receiving Chief Great Ogboru and his supporters back into the Party as scheduled on March 9, 2025. The event will proceed as planned, and we urge our members and supporters to disregard any distractions from elements whose interests are not aligned with the progress of our Party as we consolidate toward 2027 and beyond”, the statement stated.
