Crisis is said to have erupted at the Uvwie Local Government Area (LGA) in Delta State after the council chairman, Henry Baro, allegedly used his thugs to chase out and beat up councillors in because of anti-party activities.
Crisis is said to have erupted at the Uvwie Local Government Area (LGA) in Delta State after the council chairman, Henry Baro, allegedly used his thugs to chase out and beat up councillors because of anti-party activities.
SaharaReporters learned that the crisis has divided the Uvwie Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into two factions. One faction, Okpe and Sapele constituency in the federal House of Representatives, represents Uvwie and the other faction, Evelyn Oboro, is led by the Uvwie’s council chairman, Mr. Baro.
Those who were chased out of the council premises include Victor Okoloba, who is presently receiving treatment in one of the private hospitals in Warri, Glory Utuedor, Efe Ani, Rotimi Okuade, and Mr. Wilson Egrhudje.
According to the councillors, there are no personal issues between them and the council chairman, but they are being punished for working against the interest of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
"We have not been on the good book of the council chairman for daring to fight for our rights, we’ve not been paid our money but some other councillors loyal to the council chairman have since been paid. Our offence is that the council chairman called us to work for one house of Assembly candidate Mr. Efe Oforbruku of SDP and we replied it is Anti-Party.”
"For refusing to work against our Party, the PDP, during the 2015 general elections, the council chairman, Mr. Henry Baro mobilized his supporters and delivered Hon. Efe Oforbruku of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for the Delta State House of Assembly against the PDP Candidate called Mr. Matthew Itsekeri," one of the councillors said.
Another councillor stated that having refused to work for the SPD candidate, Mr. Baro began to plan evil against them and they were to be suspended shortly the council boss presented his budget proposal.
Mr. Wilson Eghrudje, another injured councillor, disclosed that the PDP LGA chairman and one FBI were beaten for refusing to work for Efe Oforbruku and also added that the threat to deal with them started about 6 months ago.
“Since we were sworn in, we’ve never disobeyed the council chairman, where he asks us to go is where we go. The chairman had to draft his armed thugs to the council secretariat and began to beat us, chased us away all because we refused to work for Efe Oforbruku of the SDP,” Mr. Wilson Eghrudje stated.
Another councillor, Glory Utuedor, told SaharaReporters that the problem started immediately after the "Chairman presented his Annual Budget and as he was leaving, he whispered something to the majority leader. Thereafter, one Martins Akporhe moved for a motion to suspend the 5 of us on the allegation that we are plotting to remove the leader and deputy leader, the thugs invaded the secretariat, and we were mercilessly beaten.”
"We asked Akporhe for proof which he couldn’t present, and argument persisted. We were surprised at the allegation and where it was coming from, but before we knew what was happening, some armed hoodlums and thugs came with the chairman. We know some of them, one of them Daniel Okpokpo, and another known as Napoleon Adibu/Napeps,” Utuedor said.