Delta Lga Polls: Nwobi Alleged Of Over N5 Million Bribe, Anti-party Activities
The member representing Aniocha North Constituency in Delta State House of Assembly (DTHA), Emeka Nwobi, has been accused of allegedly engaging in anti-party activities capable of tearing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) apart ahead of the January 6, 2018 local government elections.
The House member is also been accused of allegedly doling the total sum of N5.1 million on party executives both at the Ward and State levels to impose his preferred candidate on Ward 8 against the popular candidate.
The Supervisory Councilor in the council area, Okafor Christopher, who spoke with our correspondent, disclosed that the lawmaker is purportedly sponsoring a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who was Minority Leader of Aniocha North Legislative Arm, Ekene Nwaonye, against him after winning the primaries of the party.
According to Christopher, “Nwobi gave the Ward chairman, Victor Egbune, the sum of N100, 000 and N5 million to the PDP State executives to allow his candidate to be the Councillorship flag bearer of the party against him”, he alleged.
In a swift reaction, the media aide to the lawmaker, Patrick Ochei, said the Aniocha North representative is a core PDP member and would not stoop low to rubbishing his name.
“Nwobi is a core PDP member, he will not do that. It is a baseless allegation; it is carried around by people who have no political relevance in the council area”.
He stressed that Nwobi, ran the most expensive election following court cases when he was denied his mandate, “since he got his victory back, Uzoma Idabor alias, UZ, has not rested in filing cases against him and he has dedicated his salaries to helping the indigent people of Aniocha North. So, where does he have the N5 million to bribe party leaders? There is nothing of such, there is no money anywhere that somebody will be throwing around”, revealing that Nwobi has just secured his victory at the Appeal Court.
On the allegation of Nwaonye’s membership of APC, Ochei stated that Nwaonye had returned to the PDP, “Ekene returned to PDP haven’t been a strayed member. He was well received haven’t done well in his first term. He is loved by leaders and members of PDP. They endorsed him and he massively won the PDP primaries”.
However, report which reached our desk Thursday afternoon at about 12:53pm from a reliable source alleged that Nwaonye was still addressed as a member of APC at the valedictory session in honour of the outgoing elected officers at the Legislative Arm of Issele-Uku council.
At press time, efforts to reach Kingsley Esiso, chairman of PDP in the state was unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, in a petition by S. N Nwalokor on behalf of Christopher to the Chairman, Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC), Mike Ogbodu, titled: “Vehement Protest Against Purported Nomination Of Hon. Ekene Nwaonye, the Present (APC) Minority Leader Of Aniocha North Local Government Legislative Council As Ward 8 PDP Candidate”, obtained by our correspondent in Asaba, said Nwaonye was brought into the picture from the back door.
According to the petition, “our client is a faithful and law abiding member of PDP, currently serving as a Supervisory Councilor in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State. He contributed to the building and growth of the PDP in the Local Government through regular attendance of party meetings, campaigning and voting for the party in all elections that has made the party a winning brand in the area.
“our client instructed us has shown interest to participate in the coming local government councillorship election by putting all political campaign machinery on ground to ensure his victory in the said coming local government election. Our client has in this regards consulted widely by reaching out to all well-meaning members of the party PDP Leaders, youth and women to ensure his victory through a democratic selection by the party.
“our client was amazed upon the aforesaid preparation and foundation in place to secure the Councillorship candidate of his party PDP that one Hon Ekene Nwaonye a member of APC and current Minority Leader in the Aniocha North Legislative councilor was projected through the back doors by some unscrupulous and so-called leaders in the local government area to emerge as the PDP candidate of Ward 8 Aniocha North LGA. This unlawful decision to make Hon Ekene an APC member o fly the flag of PDP in the coming local government election has thrust up avalanche of reactions from well-meaning members of public including the Aniocha North local government Legislature, ACP Ward 7 chapter of Aniocha North LGA Office of the leader of Aniocha North local government and finally The Report of the Screening Committee for Councillorship Aspirant in Ward 8. These aforementioned reaction to the purported PDP Candidature of Hon. Nwaonye are all in an accord to confirm the fact that Hon. Ekene Nwaonye is NOT a PDP member but a card carrying member of APC. We hereby attach to this petition all those aforementioned documents for your perusal and necessary action.
“Sir, it is our passionate appeal that Hon. Ekene Nwaonye be disqualify as a PDP Councillorship Candidate Ward 8 Aniocha North LGA in the interest of Justice, fair play and best democratic practices. Hon. Ekene Nwaonye cannot reap where he did not sow. He must be a PDP member before he can fly the flag of PDP in any election. The due process of the Constitution and Electoral Law must be abided by all, a regulatory body like the DSIEC is needed in this regards to put things straight and give honour to whom honour is due”, the petition added.