PDP SENATORIAL PRIMARY IN DELTA NORTH ENDS IN FISTICUFF

Peter Nwaoboshi and Maryam Ali

The last is yet to be heard about the face-off between Mariam Nneamaka Ali, the wife of a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, and the former Chairman of the party in Delta State, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi.
The two have been at each others’ throat since four months now over the Delta North Senatorial District seat.
The primary election of the district, which was shifted from Saturday to Tuesday, following security reasons, also ended in crisis.
The uproar that broke in the course of the exercise forced the three-man electoral panel to abandon the election halfway and scamper for safety.
The Chairman of the panel, Raphael Kukuh, and his members staged a walkout, alleging fraud.
Trouble started after delegates of seven out of the nine local government areas in the senatorial district had cast their votes and a man, suspected to be Ali’s loyalist, walked up to challenge an alleged malpractice.
The crisis later compelled the security operatives at the Cenotaph, the venue of the exercise, to disperse those fomenting trouble with tear gas.
Mrs. Ali, in anger, staged a protest and also walked out of the venue.
The delegates, who attempted to hold her hostage, were prevented by security operatives.
She was escorted to her vehicle.
Before abandoning the exercise, Kukuh said he was acting on an order from above, directing him to stop the exercise.
The exercise was witnessed by the five aspirants in the contest.
They were Hon. Doris Uboh, Hon. Paschal Adigwe, Paul Osaji, Nwaoboshi and Ali.
Despite that, Oshimili South and Ukwuani council areas were yet to cast their votes.
The votes that had already been cast were counted by the Chairman of Isoko South Local Government Area, Sir Malik Ikpokpor.
While Nwaoboshi scored 138 votes, Ali, who came fouth, scored four votes.

Via Eagle Online