The newly elected Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State, Peter Mrakpor has declared that the party will field candidates in upcoming elections while also moving to reclaim its secretariats and reconcile members who may have distanced themselves from the party.
Mrakpor made the declaration on Saturday in his acceptance speech shortly after emerging as chairman during the PDP state congress held in Asaba.
The congress was monitored and endorsed by the Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state, Etekamba Udo Umoren, and produced 39 members of the state executive council through a consensus arrangement.
Addressing party members, Mrakpor urged them to return to their wards and local government areas to begin immediate grassroots mobilization ahead of future elections.
“As we prepare for the coming elections, I urge everyone to go back home and begin the work immediately,” he said.
“Let the people know that the PDP will present candidates in Delta State just as we will in other parts of the country. We will certainly have candidates in this state.”
He stressed the need for intensified grassroots engagement, including the electronic registration of party members, in order to strengthen the party’s structures across the state.
Mrakpor also encouraged party members to persuade eligible citizens to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), noting that voter participation would be crucial in the party’s electoral success.
Calling for reconciliation and unity, the PDP chairman urged members to reach out to those who may have left or distanced themselves from the party, encouraging them to return and work together to rebuild the PDP.
“We must rebuild and strengthen our party. Go to our brothers and sisters who may still be standing aside and say to them: ‘Brother come, sister come, let us build our party together,’” he said.
He acknowledged the commitment of many party faithful who sustained PDP activities at the grassroots through personal contributions despite challenging circumstances.
“Some people contributed ₦5,000, ₦2,000, ₦500, or even ₦100 just to ensure that meetings held regularly. That kind of commitment takes conviction,” Mrakpor noted.
The new chairman also announced plans to recover party properties across the state.
“Those party secretariats that belong to the PDP in this state will be recovered. We will take the necessary steps to reclaim them,” he assured.
Mrakpor previously served as Chairman of the Delta State Caretaker Working Committee before emerging as the substantive chairman at the congress.
Earlier, the chairman of the PDP State Congress Committee, Jude Imagwe, formally declared the congress open and commended party members for their commitment throughout the ward and local government congresses leading to the state congress.
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Imagwe said the successful conduct of the earlier congresses demonstrated the strength and unity of the PDP in Delta State.
“If everyone had been allowed to attend without any form of selection, this venue would not have had the capacity to accommodate all of us. That alone shows that Delta State still firmly belongs to the PDP,” he said.
He explained that the party adopted the consensus option for the congress in line with provisions of the Electoral Act which allows political parties to conduct their primaries either through direct primaries or consensus.
The oath of office for the newly elected executives was administered by John Chidera Odogwu, after which the congress ratified the emergence of the 39-member state executive council.
