Imposition: Crisis Deepens In Ughelli South As Residents Reject Alleged APC Consensus Candidate
•As constituents accused Gov. Oborevwori’s SSA on Protocol popularly known as Temple
By Chinyerum Godsfavour Gospel-Ezebuiro
“There is no consensus in Ughelli South constituency for the Delta State House of Assembly in the 2027 elections. Those running with the consensus candidate claims are anti-democracy, Festus cannot be a product of consensus,” says Kevwe.
“I am surprised that the same individual who previously opposed consensus arrangements is now being presented as a consensus candidate within the APC for the 2027 race. I find it contradictory and deceptive that someone who vehemently rejected consensus and pursued litigation up to the Supreme Court is now being marketed under the same arrangement”. – Reuben Izeze.
UGHELLI – PANDEMONIUM in Ughelli South local government area following the alleged imposition of a consensus candidate on the constituents by leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a move vehemently rejected by party members and constituents.
Rainbow Newspaper sources within the constituency told our correspondent that the selection process lacks transparency, describing it as a “kangaroo arrangement” that lacks legitimacy and is unlikely to stand.
Rainbow Newspaper gathered that a small group of party leaders allegedly handpicked a candidate ahead of the 2027 Delta State House of Assembly elections, sidelining other aspirants contesting for the same position.
Aggrieved constituents have dismissed claims of consensus and called on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to caution certain party leaders in the area.
They specifically accused his Senior Special Assistant on Protocol, popularly known as Temple, of invoking the governor’s name to support a preferred aspirant, an individual they claim had previously opposed any form of consensus arrangement.
“There is no consensus in Ughelli South constituency for the Delta State House of Assembly in the 2027 elections. Those running with the consensus candidate claims are anti-democracy, Festus cannot be a product of consensus,” a constituent, Kevwe, said.
“This was the same man who condemned and rejected the consensus arrangement in 2014 cannot in 2026 be a beneficiary of the consensus arrangement he once fought against. We say no consensus in Ughelli South constituency and it will never be, let all aspirants go to the field.
“We are using this opportunity to appeal to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to please caution his SSA on protocol, Temple, who is using the governor’s name to deceive the people with ‘Oga Say’, ‘Oga Say’ to favour his candidate through a kangaroo consensus.
“All the aspirants for the House of Assembly election, must be allowed to test their popularity, no one is going to hide under the guise of any consensus arrangement. Temple, be warned, don’t use the name of the governor to cause problems in the constituency for us.”
Reacting to claims of a purported consensus candidate in Ughelli South Constituency, the Delta State Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads), Reuben Izeze, has dismissed reports that the APC has produced a consensus candidate ahead of the 2027 Delta State House of Assembly elections.
Izeze, who represented Ughelli South in the State House of Assembly from 2015 to 2023, described the claims as misleading.
He recalled his emergence as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2014 through a consensus arrangement endorsed by party leaders and delegates in Otughievwen.
However, he noted that the process was strongly opposed by one of the aspirants, Festus Eseoghene Utuama.
The commissioner accused certain political actors of attempting to blackmail party members by invoking the name of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, describing the tactic as the “Oga say” narrative.
According to Izeze, six out of seven aspirants agreed to step down for him in the interest of party unity, while Utuama was absent at the meeting and later rejected the consensus outcome.
According to Izeze, six out of seven aspirants agreed to step down for him in the interest of party unity, while Utuama was absent at the meeting and later rejected the consensus outcome.
He added that attempts were subsequently made to substitute his name as the PDP candidate, amid claims that a separate primary election had been conducted.
The dispute, he said, led to a prolonged legal battle initiated by Utuama, which lasted for three years before being resolved by the Supreme Court in April 2018 in his favour.
“At that time, all efforts by prominent leaders, including former governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Late Edwin Clark, and Moses Taiga, to resolve the dispute amicably were unsuccessful,” Izeze said.
“I am surprised that the same individual who previously opposed consensus arrangements is now being presented as a consensus candidate within the APC for the 2027 race. I find it contradictory and deceptive that someone who vehemently rejected consensus and pursued litigation up to the Supreme Court is now being marketed under the same arrangement.”
Izeze, however, dismissed insinuations that any political authority had endorsed such a move, insisting that no directive had been issued to that effect.
He urged members of the APC in Ughelli South to disregard what he described as propaganda and encouraged all aspirants to pursue their ambitions through lawful and democratic processes, adding that the party’s credibility depends on transparency, fairness, and due process.
“I want to reiterate that I have no intention of contesting in the forthcoming election, all I am saying is the need for fairness, internal democracy, and respect for due process in the selection of candidates,” Izeze said.
