2015 Elections: Group protests alleged imposition of APC senatorial candidate

A group under the aegis of Delta Coalition for
Change (DCC) on Monday led a protest march to
the national secretariat of the All Progressives
Congress (APC), citing imposition of a candidate.
The DCC, which attempted to shut down activities
at the secretariat on Tuesday, accused the party
National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun, of imposing
Prince Yemi Emiko, as senatorial candidate of the
party for Delta South senatorial district.
Led by Mr Young Piero, the youths sang songs in
protest against what they called “the injustice
against the will of the people.’’
Piero told journalists in an interview that Mr
Temisan Omatseye was declared winner among
three aspirants that contested the senatorial
primary but was shocked when they were told that
Prince Yemi Emiko had emerged as candidate.
He said “three candidates contested the Delta
South Senatorial primary and Bar. Temisan
Omatseye emerged winner but to our amazement,
Yemi Emiko who came far second is being
brandished as the candidate.’’
In a protest letter signed by Sen. Felix Okposo and
Dr Alex Ideh among other signatories and
addressed to the APC National Chairman, the Delta
State Elders Committee described the alleged
imposition of Prince Yemi Emiko as an ugly sign.
The elders believed it would damage the reputation
of the party and possibly lead to chaos.
The letter read: ”We the under-signed leaders
shown below witnessed the primary and seriously
frown at the imposition of Prince Yemi Emiko who
did not win the primary as our candidate for Delta
South Senatorial district.
“The people of Delta South senatorial district have
spoken by their vote and therefore the sanctity of
the result of the votes must be respected.”
The elders urged the party’s National Working
Committee (NWC) to declare Omatseye as the
rightful winner to avoid what it called ”any
unpleasant consequences” to the party
performance in Delta.
In a telephone interview with newsmen, Oyegun
said the protest was belated as names of final
candidates that would contest the 2015 elections
had been forwarded to appropriate organs.
He said the party had submitted full list of
candidates for elective offices to INEC and the NWC
had also submitted its report on primary election
petitions.