By Segun James
A group known as Concerned PDP Leaders has called for the expulsion of former Minister of State for Education, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, for alleged anti-party activities, saying he worked against the party interest in the just concluded general election.
The group in a petition signed by its leaders, Olorogun Andrew Desi, Viv Pela, Ken Pela, Mr. Ochuko Mejire, Omoefe Pelaand Freeborn Onokata, and addressed to the Chairman of the party in the state, Mr. Kingsley Esiso, and copied to the state Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa; former Governor Chief James Ibori, and former Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama, lamented that Gbagi did not only work against the candidates but was actively hobnobbing with candidates of opposition political parties.
Also accused along with Gbagi for involvement in the anti-party activities are the Special Adviser to the Governor on Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Chief Emuoboh Gbagi,
“who was accused of canvassing for votes for YES party in units 15 and 16 of Oginibo.
“Special Assistant to the Governor on Legal Matters, Mr. Tareri Avwomakpa, was also accused of canvassing for votes for YES party in Unit 23 of Oginibo, and Mr. Lucky Oniyan, the current councilor representing Jeremi Ward 16 who was alleged to have coordinated the canvassing for votes for YES party in Imode.”
The group also accused Mr. Gbenga Avwomakpa, a former Councilor; John Adjeke, a former supervisory councilor, and Christian Ushevwitode, PDP Youth Leader in Jeremi, who were also caught allegedly canvassing for votes for YES party in their various polling units in Oginibo.
According to the petitioners, “Based on the foregoing, we believe we have established a prima facie case against Kenneth Gbagi and the other six listed persons above on the following counts of disobeying the lawful directives of the party by working for the YES party House of Assembly candidate instead of the PDP House of Assembly candidate thereby engaging in anti-party activities.”
They also stated that a prima facie case has been established against Gbagi and his son, Emuoboh for allegedly disobeying the lawful directives of former Deputy Governor, Prof Amos Utuama, to involve other leaders of the community/ward in the deployment of logistics by using such to work against the interest of the PDP.
The petitioners further emphasised that from an analysis of votes in the March 9 election results, the YES party got a 1,049 votes from three communities representing 83 percent of total votes of 1,258 gotten by the YES party in the local government area.
The group stressed that while Gbagi had engaged in such activities in the past, they were not bothered because he wasn’t operating in the mainstream PDP at the state level and as such, they were prepared for his antics.
“However, having come to the mainstream PDP, such activities coming from someone benefiting from patronage and appointments from the state government to the detriment of those who have remained loyal to the party over the years could spell doom for the party in the locality if not contained.
“In view of the foregoing, we hereby recommend that Kenneth Gbagi and the six others earlier identified be expelled from the party forthwith,” the petition stated.
