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.