But in a swift reaction, a group under the auspices of Ethiope East Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Study Group, has described the statement credited to Chief Benerd Edewor, mere propaganda and coated with falsehood.
The PDP Chieftain was quoted to have said the position of the local government council Chairmanship has been zoned to Okpara Inland axis of the local government area.
The group in a statement signed by the chairman, Comrade Jerry Mamoakpo and Secretary, Chris Okirue respectively revealed that the purported statement of the zoning was disclosed during a meeting summoned by the leader of Ethiope East PDP, Chief Edewor, while meeting with the 29 selected leaders for the forthcoming chairmanship primaries.
Briefing newsmen by the Ethiope East PDP Group, at Asaba, headquarters of the state, the Chairman said there was never a time when the chairmanship position of the local government was zoned to either Agbon 1, Agbon II or Abraka, insisting that it has always been an open contest where all aspirants are allowed to test their popularity in the field.
The group had said that having done its findings, it was discovered that since 1999 till date, there has never been an issue of zoning hence, aspirants are always allowed to come out to contest the primaries without restriction to any of the eleven federal wards.
Speaking further, the chairman said, “From the available information, the Agbon 1 has produced late Chief Ochuko Unuagba on two consecutive tenure of six years as chairman and later became Caretaker Committee chairman for one year.
“Again, Agbon 1 has produced, Chief Lucky Oteheri, as Caretaker Committee Chairman for another period of two years on the platform of PDP. So, if there was zoning as claimed by some of the party leaders, the Caretaker Committee Chairman ought to have moved to Agbon II, to balance the equation at that time but it didn’t work because there was never any time there was zonning.
“Again, the election that brought in Chief Tony Oboro of Agbon II, as Chairman was Keenly contested with Chief Alex Imara, and nobody argued that it was the turn of Agbon II, because it never existed then not to talk of now.
“This is a clear indication that there was no zoning anywhere and on this we want to inform our amiable governor, Dr. lfeanyi Okowa, who believes in peace, justice, fairness and equity to look critically into the issue and addressed it to avoid unforseen issues that will cause disunity among us for a thing that never existed over the years on zoning between Agbon 1 and II.
Consequent upon the above the Ethiope East PDP Study Group, Asaba branch, decided to come out to address this issue knowing fully well that the state governor would do justice to the issue.
