By Paul Olayemi

ABUJA – The Acting Chairman of The All Progressive Congress APC in Delta State, Chief Francis I. Obigbor, has presented the Alternate Report of the Olorogun O’tega Emerhor-led Reconciliation Committee to the party’s National leadership on Wednesday.

This report directly challenges the Majority Report of the committee, which has been a point of contention among party members.

In a press statement issued by Chief Obigbor, the Alternate Report was described as a comprehensive documentation of the disagreements with the Majority Report. The Acting Chairman outlined the report’s primary concerns, including the alleged illegal formation and composition of the committee, a lack of transparency, unresolved internal conflicts, and the neglect of grassroots feedback.

“The Alternate Report fundamentally chronicles the disagreements with the Majority Report, citing numerous flaws and concerns, including issues with the Reconciliation Committee’s illegal formation and composition, lack of transparency, failure to effect or achieve genuine reconciliation, conflict of interest of members, and ignoring grassroots feedback,” Chief Obigbor stated.

Central to the Alternate Report’s criticisms is its outright rejection of the Majority Report’s recommendation for the establishment of a council of leaders at all levels of the party’s structure. Chief Obigbor described this proposal as unconstitutional, biased, and a potential source of further division within the party. “The recommendation for a council of leaders is not only unconstitutional but also detrimental to the unity and progress of the party,” he remarked.

Instead of adopting the Majority Report’s controversial suggestions, the Alternate Report proposes a series of reforms designed to strengthen the party, foster unity, and address long-standing internal challenges. Chief Obigbor noted that the recommendations focus on inclusivity, accountability, and rebuilding trust within the party.

“The report emphasizes the need for regular meetings of party organs, free, fair, and transparent congresses, grassroots engagement, transparency, and accountability. It also calls for a post-mortem analysis of the 2023 elections to identify and address weaknesses and for the federal government to empower APC members,” Chief Obigbor said.

The Alternate Report has garnered significant backing from party stakeholders, with nine out of the 21 committee members, including the Deputy State Chairman, signing the document. It also received endorsements from key figures in the Delta APC, including the State Secretary, six of the seven APC members of the Delta State House of Assembly, 16 members of the State Executive Committee, and all 25 Local Government Area (LGA) APC secretaries.

In addition to these endorsements, influential party figures such as a serving member of the House of Representatives, five federal commissioners, two former speakers of the Delta State House of Assembly, and Distinguished Senator Peter Nwaoboshi have expressed their support for the Alternate Report. “This broad coalition of support underscores the credibility and inclusivity of our recommendations,” Obigbor said.

The Acting Chairman concluded by calling on the National leadership of the APC to give due consideration to the Alternate Report, emphasizing its potential to address internal grievances and unify the Delta APC. “This report is a roadmap for building a stronger, more transparent, and inclusive Delta APC,” he stated.