Former Minister for Education and gubernatorial aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State, Barrister Kenneth Gbagi has withdrawn his participation in the party’s primary election.
This was disclosed in a petition to the National Chairman of the party, Senator Iyorchia Ayu.
He alleged that he decided to withdraw from the primary election due to threat to his life and the anti-democratic conduct by Dr Ifeayi Okowa, Governor of Delta
He said the Governor openly offered inducement in the realm of between N1 Million Naira and above if the delegates would vote for Rt. Hon. Sherrif Oborevwori.
The former minister also said the Governor promised the delegates the sum of N1 million at the venue of the primary elections, if they toed his line.
He accused the Governor of sinking the fortunes of PDP in Delta State with an unmarketable candidate for reasons best known to him, but using threats to the life of members of PDP across the line.
Read the full petition as reproduced hereunder:
LAW OFFICE OF KENNETH O. GBAGI & ASSOCIATES
National Chairman,
People’s Democratic Party
Wadata Plaza
Wuse II Abuja
Attn: Senator Iyorchia Ayu
Through
The State Chairman
PDP
Barr. Kingsley Esiso
Sir,
Threat to Life, Anti-democratic Conduct by His Excellency Dr. Ifeayi Okowa Governor Delta at Government House Asaba today 21/5/22
(1) Delegates to the PDP primaries were invited by His Excellency, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa on 21/5/22 for what was billed as a party meeting.
(2) In line with the Electoral law 2022 in force, I emerged as an adhoc delegate in my ward in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.
(3) On arriving at the Government House, Asaba the venue of the meeting I was surprised to be accosted by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon. Ovie Agas who pleaded with me that contrary to the message sent out inviting all adhoc delegates, he was requested by His Excellency to ensure that I and several other persons were not allowed into the venue.
(4) I insisted that as a Former Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and as an ad hoc delegate, I was entitled to be told the reason why I was persona non grata in a PDP that some persons who are not quite two years old in the party are entitled to attend.
(5) When pleas by the Chief of Staff to the Governor of Delta State did not move me out of the premises of Government House, I was accosted by a gun toting ADC to the Governor, Mr. Frank Omokoje Longe who told me he had orders to shoot me and nothing would happen if I did not immediately vacate the premises of the Government House Asaba. That I had been told that the Governor does not want me in PDP or any PDP meetings henceforth and I was still insisting on attending the meeting.
(6) Whilst the altercations were going on, the Chairman of my local government council identified me on the list of delegates as an ad hoc delegate and pointed out that my name was on the list. But all pleas fell on deaf ears.
(7) It transpired that the reason Senator Dr. Okowa called the meeting was because all available information was that both within the party and in the larger Delta State, people were making it clear that his preferred CANDIDATE in the forth coming gubernatorial primary election, Rt. Hon. Sherrif Oborevwori was unacceptable.
(8) The Governor called the meeting to intimidate and witch hunt ad hoc delegates using the pomp and circumstances of office and tax payers’ money to overawe the delegates. The Governor issued threats against any person who he said would engage in anti-party activities by voting against his preferred candidate in the forthcoming primary elections of the PDP.
(9) He also openly offered inducement in the real of between N1 Million Naira and above if the delegates would vote for Rt. Hon. Sherrif Oborevwori. He said there would be more, if they toed his line. On the spot, each ad hoc delegate who was allowed into the venue was given N100, 000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) with N1 Million promised at the venue.
(10) Senator Dr. Okowa is bent on sinking the fortunes of PDP in Delta State with an unmarketable candidate for reasons best known to him, but using threats to the life of members of PDP across the line. I could have been killed by a person whose salary is paid by the people of Delta State simply because I wanted to participate in the political life of my party; if I were a nobody, the story might have been different.
(11) I was a founding member of PDP 1998 and I have been a member of PDP since then till date. I served as Honorable Minister for Education and it is still on record that in 9 months we founded 13 universities all over the federation.
(12) I will not continue to pretend that the party which we founded 23 years ago and brought to Delta State and by the grace of God has won every Governorship election since 1999 has not changed beyond all recognition by the above acts.
It is therefore my humble view that as a Foundation member of the party from 1998 to date, a former Minister for Education, having validly obtained my expression of interest and nomination form, screened by the screening panel and issued a certificate to contest the Governorship election, my refusal today as an ad hoc delegate is a clear act of hostility, desperation and threat to life.
I hereby withdraw my participation in the primaries since Governor Arthur Ifeayi Okowa, contrary to all his promises and pledges that there will be a free, fair and level playing ground is untrue since he has pre-determined the primary election.
Long Live Delta State and Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Signed.
Olorogun Barr. Kenneth O. Gbagi FNIM
Cc: Dr. Ifeayi Arthur Okowa
Cc: National Legal Adviser
Cc: State Chairman Delta State
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