Former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ughelli North, Mr. Lucky Ofomukoro has emerged as the consensus chairmanship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State ahead of the party’s congress.
The emergence followed extensive consultations among party leaders and stakeholders at a meeting held on Sunday at the Ughelli North Local Government Council secretariat.
Until the collapse of the PDP in the state into the APC, Ofomukoro was the PDP chairman in the local government, but joined the train that followed the governor into the APC.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, the Vice Chairman of the APC Ughelli North Leadership Council, Mr Fred Majemite, said the consensus arrangement was adopted to foster unity and strengthen the party ahead of future political engagements.
Majemite explained that party leaders agreed to rotate key positions between the two constituencies in the local government, noting that offices earlier zoned to Constituency 1 were swapped with those of Constituency 2 to ensure fairness and inclusiveness.
According to him, the APC chairmanship position was eventually zoned to Constituency 1, a development that paved the way for the emergence of Lucky Ofomukoro as the preferred and consensus candidate.
He disclosed that while the build-up to the congress was characterised by disagreements and internal rancour, about 90 percent of the issues had been resolved, with only one outstanding matter, which he said would be addressed promptly.
Majemite, who spoke in his capacity as acting chairman in the absence of the substantive Chairman, O’tega Emerhor, expressed satisfaction with the peaceful and successful outcome of the meeting, adding that leaders and elders of the party in Ughelli North were united behind the resolutions reached.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Ughelli North Local Government Area, Jaro Egbo, said the consensus process is in line with the directive of the APC leadership in the state, following a recent stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House, Asaba.
Egbo explained that the party, under the leadership of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, had stressed the need for inclusiveness and unity, urging all stakeholders, whether old or new members of the APC—to return to their wards, consult widely, and build consensus.
He said five leaders were invited from each of the 11 wards, making a total of 55 stakeholders, noting that the meeting enjoyed near-total attendance.
According to him, the consultations were aimed at ensuring that all interests were accommodated ahead of the congress, adding that issues in two wards were identified, one of which had already been resolved, while a committee had been set up to address the remaining matter.
Chairman of APC in Ughelli North, Mr. Samuel Evwighono, described the meeting as fruitful, noting that it demonstrated the unity and collective resolve of the party in the local government.
Evwighono said the wide consultations carried out ahead of the congress ensured that no member was left aggrieved, stressing that open dialogue remained key to resolving disagreements in politics.
He advised the newly emerged chairman to constitute a reconciliation committee to further consolidate unity and ensure that all party members were fully carried along as the party moves forward.
