By Innocent Anaba
In this interview,  Mr. Victor Azebiri, a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,  House of Assembly aspirant,  who contested the party primaries  to represent Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State,  spoke on the primaries, his disappointment at the party not providing a level playing ground for every contestant and other issues. Excerpts:

What do you think were the reasons  you lost in the PDP primaries to contest for the state House of Assembly election to represent Bomadi Local Government Area in Delta State?

I did not lose in the primaries, what happened was that the primaries could not take place because the materials and officials were hijacked on their way to Bomadi on the day the primaries were scheduled.

And how did you and other contestants take it?

We have made a formal protest to the party chairman of the state, Chief  Peter Nwaoboshi,  the Primaries Electoral Committee headed by Alhaji Sanni Garuba, the national PDP headquarters Abuja, the national headquarters of the State Security Service, SSS and even the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

What is the outcome of the protests so far?

I will start by saying that, the PDP which is supposed to set standard is derailing.

It seems that there is strong support for  Dombraye to return to the Delta State House of Assembly.

No, that is not true. That man can no longer represent us. He has been representing the Bomadi Local Government Area since 1999 till date without any meaningful development attracted by him to the area. Could you believe that for the past 12 years,  there is no single constituency project commissioned to his credit. The people of the area are fed up with him.

Dombraye’s name must have been sent to INEC as the PDP candidate. What is your reaction?

What I am saying is that, Dombraye is just day dreaming and we will do whatever it takes, legally  to stop him. As far as I am concerned, the  PDP does not have candidate to represent Bomadi in the House of Assembly seat until the party do what is required of them.

You seemed to be more disturbed than your fellow contestants,  who are in the same position with you.

You may say so. What I am saying is that, a level playing ground should have been given to every contestant. Like the rerun PDP primaries held nationwide, even though it has become a contentious issue before INEC, at least the party has cleared himself. You saw the way the PDP national conventions were held and only the peoples candidate emerged. Besides we signed an undertaking that if any aspirant disrupts the primaries, he will be disqualified and even the 2011 Electoral Act clearly states that anyone found flouting the Electoral Law should  face the law.

You said, copies of the petition were equally sent to INEC, what did they do?

INEC as an electoral body relies on the party and the security reports regarding the primaries. But in our case, these security reports which the SSS were supposed to have furnished the INEC, were swept under the carpet and there is somebody in Abuja who is sitting on them because of his interest. So what I am saying is that whatever happens concerning the failed primaries, those who are in support of illegality should be held responsible no matter how highly placed.