ADC 2023 Candidates Disown Gbandi, Akpovoka’s “ADC Coalition Unveiling”, Accuse Group Of Party Hijack, Secret Deal With PDP

A major crack has emerged in the Delta State chapter of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, as candidates of the party in the 2023 general elections have publicly distanced themselves from the “ADC Coalition Unveiling” scheduled to hold on Saturday under the coordination of Mr Kenneth Gbandi and Mr Julius Akpovoka.

In a jointly signed statement made available to newsmen on Friday, the candidates described the planned event as “unauthorized, unrepresentative and unacceptable”, insisting that it does not reflect the interest or position of legitimate stakeholders of the party in the state.

The statement was jointly signed by Hon. Sylvester Avworo Maver, Delta Central Senatorial Candidate, Prince Ukuanovwe Godstime OJ, Ethiope Federal Constituency Candidate, Hon. Precious Omilegbe Ubogu, Isoko Federal Constituency Candidate, Hon. Ejiroghene Henry Oghwere, Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie Federal Constituency Candidate, High Chief Ogho Irikefe, Ethiope East House of Assembly Candidate, Chief Oghenekevwe Aghomi, Ethiope West House of Assembly Candidate, Hon. Ufuoma Darius, Uvwie House of Assembly Candidate, Hon. Tabai Bibobra Brain, Burutu North State Constituency Candidate and Hon. Thompson Okeowo, Warri South 1 State Constituency Candidate.

Candidates Allege Party Hijack, Sectional Domination
The group alleged that the structure currently being paraded as the ADC State Executive is “controversial, illegal, and overwhelmingly dominated by individuals from Delta North”, a development they say does not represent the inclusive and statewide character of the party.

They specifically accused Mr Austin Okolie, the Ika South LGA Chairman, of “parading himself as the Delta State ADC Chairman” despite what they described as a faulty and unconstitutional emergence.

How Party Structure Allegedly Collapsed in 2023
The statement recalled that the authentic ADC structure in Delta State collapsed during the 2023 elections after the then State Chairman, Barr Emmanuel Dibia, his executives, and the three senatorial chairmen excluding the State Secretary defected to the APC.

According to the candidates, the ADC Constitution provides that the State Secretary should have assumed leadership in an acting capacity.

“Instead, Mr Gbandi manipulated the process and imposed his associate, Mr Austin Okolie, as State Chairman. This action was unconstitutional, divisive, and unacceptable to genuine stakeholders,” they stated.

Group Accuses Gbandi, Okolie of Running ADC as Personal Estate
The aggrieved candidates further alleged that the duo of Gbandi and Okolie have been running the party as a “one man affair”, sidelining prominent coalition partners and those who flew the ADC flag during the last general elections.

They accused the group of promoting sectional interests at the expense of the collective progress of the party.

Defiance of National Leadership
The candidates also faulted what they described as the group’s refusal to honour a directive from the ADC National Chairman, Senator David Mark, conveyed through the National Vice Chairman (South South), Usani Uguru Usani, requesting a one-week postponement of the planned unveiling to allow wider consultation.

According to them, the refusal to comply “confirms that the event is a personal project, not an official ADC activity.”

Alleged Deal With PDP During 2023 Elections
In one of the strongest allegations contained in the statement, the 2023 candidates accused the trio of Austin Okolie, Kenneth Gbandi, and their associate, Chukwuka Monye, of unilaterally negotiating the ADC structure with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, during the 2023 elections.

They alleged that the group endorsed Governor Sheriff Oborevwori without consulting party stakeholders or candidates, many of whom were funding their campaigns with personal resources.

“These negotiations were used to secure appointments and contracts for themselves and their family members. Till now, they have not given any public account of how the ADC mandate was traded for personal gain,” the statement added.

We Do Not Recognize Austin Okolie Candidates
The candidates took a firm stand, declaring that they do not recognize Mr Austin Okolie as the Delta State ADC Chairman.

They urged the public, party members, and supporters to disregard the planned coalition unveiling, insisting that it does not have the approval of the authentic structure of the party.

“We remain committed to working with the legitimate national leadership to rebuild a credible, inclusive, and constitutionally grounded ADC in Delta State,” they noted.

At the time of this report, attempts to speak to Gbandi and Akpovoka, proved abortive