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Kingsley Esiso, Delta PDP Chairman.

By Chukwudi Abiandu

There is furore in Aniocha North Local Government circles of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). All is not well with them. There is angst and discontent against what has been described by sources as a revulsion against the impunity and imposition disposition, allegedly by Mrs. Nkem Okwuofu, a prominent political war horse in the area, and her cabal.
Accordingly, things are falling apart among the political bigwigs, and the centre of the spirit of togetherness that hitherto existed in the PDP political family of Aniocha North is no longer holding.
There is resentment of sorts against an alleged imposition of unpopular candidates by a minute population of leaders led by Mrs. Okwuofu, whose disposition is to favour either their children or the appointment for their cronies.
Sources told banneronlinenews.com that the fight that predated the last primaries for the emergence of candidates to be fielded to fly the PDP flag in the just concluded council elections has now snowballed, with the Okwuofu gang losing out as majority of other leaders and the youths prevailed to ensure that appointments into the various offices in the Local Government’s legislative arm is done on the basis of popular choice by the people.
It is alleged for instance that Chief Emmanuel Eboh is rooting for his son to be given the position of supervisory councilor, a move that did not go down well with the people in that ward. Similarly, Chief Valentine Okafor, another chieftain wants to foist his son, Christopher Okafor, but were resisted by the people. “Now, father and son are blackmailing those opposed to their antics in the social media,” a source that pleaded anonymity said.
“Christopher Okafor, who was a former supervisory council in the just ended dispensation in the Council, was not the popular choice of party faithful, hence he failed his bid to return as a councilor at the primary level,” the source explained.
Besides, Mrs. Nkem Okwuofu is fingered to have perfected the plan to impose some former councilors and return them as principal officers in the Council. “But this was stoutly opposed and resisted,” sources hinted, explaining that PDP faithful in the local government insisted that others must be fielded.
Banneronlinenews.com gathered that there is palpable outrage against the “it is either me or no one else” stance of Mrs. Okwuofu and the cabal in the PDP affairs in the local government has become obscene and irritable to other leaders and majority of the youth. “They are disenchanted with her dictatorial and imperious tendencies. She is contending with the newly sworn-in Vice Chairman, Hon. Tobe Ukwamedua, the new leader of the Legislative Arm, Hon. Ekene Nwaonye, and others,” sources said.
Also, it was pointed out that the people are also disenchanted with the returned Chairman, Hon. Chuks Oseme for second term, who our source described as “an ingrate” for not realising that he was favoured and accommodated to return for second term as Aniocha North Council Chairman, when in the real sense he does not deserve to return.
“Chuks Oseme was imposed on the people by Chief Okwuofu,” sources said.
Chuks Oseme has been accused of carrying out vendetta against the leadership and staff of Aniocha North Local Government when he directed the seizure of their staff vehicles, including NULGE buses soon after he was sworn-in last week as the council’s chairman. He had since his return, embarked on a mission of transferring out of the local government, staff he perceived as stumbling block to his unacceptable style of leadership with the help of officers at the Local Government Service Commission, sources revealed.
Meanwhile, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is believed to have waded into the matter, with a view to bringing amicable settlement to the Aniocha North PDP imbroglio.