By Victor Ahiuma-Young

Foundation members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Delta North Senatorial District, under the aegis of the Delta North Coalition for Equity, have called on the National Chairman of the party, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, to provide decisive leadership by instituting a transparent and inclusive harmonisation framework that guarantees equity, fairness and electoral success at all levels.

The call was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a stakeholders’ meeting held in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

At the meeting, members demanded fair and meaningful inclusion of APC foundation members in government appointments at both federal and state levels, including boards and agencies.

The communiqué also urged the Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, to integrate old APC members into his political structure within the existing APC machinery in the state.

In a five-point communiqué, signed by the Chairman, Alex Ikpeazu, and the Secretary-General, Kemmar Emina, and unanimously adopted by stakeholders from Delta North, the group unequivocally demanded that the position of State APC Chairman be zoned to Delta North in the next dispensation.

They noted that Delta South has already taken its turn, while Delta Central, which currently occupies the position, will soon complete its tenure, stressing that zoning the office to Delta North is necessary in the interest of equity, fairness and balanced representation.

The group further called for the development of a sustainable party architecture anchored on unity, inclusiveness, equity and collective ownership, incorporating former PDP members who recently joined the APC, the existing APC structure, and the party’s founding members.

Another key demand was the formal involvement of Delta North APC leadership in the ongoing coalition process, including all negotiations, consultations, appointments and party restructuring efforts, to adequately protect the interests of the senatorial district.

Stakeholders who spoke at the meeting emphasised the need to “save the soul of the APC” ahead of the general elections, lamenting that founding members of the party no longer have a voice in the affairs of the APC in Delta State.

“We want to save our beloved party because, as it stands today, old members of the APC no longer have a voice. We are not recognised in the scheme of things in Delta State. Meetings are called without our inclusion, and there is no clear party structure for us,” a stakeholder said. “We are demanding recognition and positions within the party. Equity and fairness demand that the party must be strong, regardless of who the governor is.”

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Dr. Christopher Okoba described the situation as unacceptable, likening it to landlords being displaced by tenants.

“Traditionally, when you come into my house, you must recognise that I am the owner of the house. You cannot come into my house and turn me into a tenant,” Okoba said. “When we met with the President, he assured us that landlords cannot be overtaken by tenants, and that is the position we still maintain.”

He added that the group was not interested in apportioning blame over rivalry between old and new members of the party.

“We are not here to blame anyone. We are here to correct and cure a defect in our party so that both old and new members can work together. Our goal is unity, fairness and a stronger APC in Delta State,” he said.