TDProfessor Patrick Okedinachi Utomi has insisted that a planned meeting of governorship aspirants of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Delta State will proceed as scheduled, despite the Delta State chapter of the party publicly distancing itself from the gathering.
In a statement titled “Meeting of Contestants in Delta Under the NDC Banner,” Utomi said the meeting followed discussions he held a few weeks ago with NDC leader, Senator Seriake Dickson.
The meeting centred on strategies to secure electoral victory and rebuild Delta State and the South-South region.
According to him, both leaders agreed that he should first unite all governorship contestants in Delta State before convening a similar meeting involving NDC governorship candidates across the South-South.
Utomi clarified that he is leading the party’s Strategy and Manifesto initiatives.
He, therefore, invited governorship aspirants, members of the party executive, and party elders to what he described as “a simple sharing event” at his residence in Ibusa on Sunday.
Responding to the controversy surrounding the meeting, Utomi acknowledged that uncertainty over the source of the invitation had prompted a cautionary statement from some state officials.
“I am informed lack of clarity about the convening source had produced a caveat emptor statement by some state officials.
“Be assured that the invitation is from me and that the meeting will take place by the grace of God,” he stated.
He expressed confidence that the gathering would strengthen unity within the party and advance the interests of Delta State, the South-South region, and Nigeria’s democracy.
Utomi’s remarks came after the Delta State leadership of the NDC issued a statement warning members against participating in what it described as a purported meeting of aspirants at the professor’s residence.
The statement, signed by State Publicity Secretary Chief McCollins Nwose and State Chairman Chief Hon. Angiamaowei Richman Oyindoubra, said the meeting was “neither convened, authorized, approved, nor communicated through any of the recognized organs or leadership structures of the Party in Delta State.”
While reaffirming its respect and admiration for Prof. Utomi as a distinguished party leader and elder statesman, the state chapter stressed that all meetings concerning party affairs, aspirants, candidates, and political engagements must be conducted through the party’s constitutional structures and with the approval of the duly constituted state leadership.
The party also urged members to avoid activities capable of creating parallel structures or causing unnecessary tension, noting that its immediate focus is on organizing transparent primary elections for six restored Delta State constituencies recently announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Despite the state leadership’s position, Utomi has maintained that Sunday’s meeting will go ahead as planned.
