The All Progress Congress, APC in Delta State on Sunday confirmed that Chief Paulinus Akpeki is the Acting State Chairman of the Party.
The party stressed that Chief Paulinus Akpeki remains Acting State Chairman In the Absence of the State Chairman in accordance with Article 14:2(iii) of the APC Constitution.
The APC also noted that its State Chairman, Elder Omeni Sobotie is on medical vacation and has sent a letter to the State Working Committee, SWC.
This is contained in a statement signed by Delta APC Publicity Secretary, Valentine Onojeghuo Esq.
The APC image maker said, ‘SWC after reviewing the content of the letter and the provisions of the Party’s constitution, voted to confirm Chief Paulinus Akpeki as Acting State Chairman.
“Barr. Francis Obigbor, Deputy State Chairman was present during the deliberations of the SWC meeting.
“The Olorogun O’tega Emerhor led Reconciliation Committee submitted its report to the Acting State Chairman Chief Paulinus Akpeki with the Deputy State Chairman Barr Francis Obigbor present.”
According to Onojeghuo, “In the light of various opinions being expressed by cross sections of the membership of our great Party on the confirmation of Chief Paulinus Akpeki as acting State Chairman by SWC in the absence of the State Chairman Elder Omeni Sobotie who is on a medical vacation, it has become imperative to set the record straight to put an end to the misinterpretation and misinformation for the purpose of creating mischief and unnecessary tension within the rank and file of the Party in Delta State.
“Ordinarily, while a simplistic interpretation of the provisions of Article 14:2(iii) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Constitution authorize the Deputy National Chairman (either North or South) of the Party to act as in the absence of the National Chairman, it is however not automatic as there is a proviso which requires that the Deputy National Chairman must be from the same zone with the National Chairman for the Deputy National Chairman to qualify to act as National Chairman.
“By applying the principle of mutatis mutandis as enshrined in the APC, zones at the national level become senatorial districts at the state level and the Deputy State Chairman Barr. Francis Obigbor who is from Delta North Senatorial District, cannot by any stretch of the imagination and the clear provisions of Article 14 2 iii and iv become the Acting State Chairman of the Party having not come from the same Senatorial District as the State Chairman Elder Omeni Sobotie who is from Delta Central Senatorial District. Consequently, it is the State Vice Chairman Chief Paulinus Akpeki who hails from Delta Central Senatorial District with the State Chairman that automatically becomes the Acting State Chairman.
“The unpretentious and equitable interpretation of the provision in Article 14:2(iii) and (iv) of the APC Constitution shows that the State Vice Chairman from the same senatorial district as the State Chairman to take over in the chairman’s absence is a strategic mechanism designed to maintain leadership continuity, uphold regional balance as it ensures that the leadership continues to represent the interests and dynamics of the specific geographical area in the State and ensure political stability within the Party. It is on the basis of this understanding that the majority of the members of SWC voted to confirm the appointment of Chief Paulinus Akpeki as Acting State Chairman.”
Onojeghuo appealed to all party faithful not to allow themselves to be swayed by innuendos and to disregard any press release by the Deputy State Chairman, Francis Obigbor as same is designed to create distractions from the focal goal of fortifying the structures of the Party as a formidable electoral machine in the elections ahead.