2023: UPU entangle in endorsement crisis over next governor of Delta

The Urhobo Progressive Union (UPU) has been enmeshed with a new internal crisis as 31 elders and leaders in the Delta Central region rejected the endorsement of a governorship aspirant, Olorogun David Edevbie,
Trouble began when the Urhobo apex socio cultural organization President-General, Olorogun Moses Taiga and his executives purportedly endorsed Edebvie, last week, as their preferred aspirant to succeed Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in 2023.
Dismayed at the endorsement, the spokesperson of the elders and leaders who doubles as PDP chairman, Delta Central Senatorial District, Chief Dr Patrick Fovie A.P, supported by the 30 others, in a co-signed statement, urged the union to immediately retrace its steps and stop the usurpation of political matters.

The elders observed that the union derailed from its constitutional provision and hijacked the duty of the State Working Committee (SWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to conduct provide a level playing ground for all aspirants through a free, fair and credible primary election.

He said, “similar scenario played out in 2014-2015 wherein UPU came up with ‘Urhobo Political Agenda’ and this singular act not only caused internal crisis in the great party but also created factions in UPU with two President-Generals orders and counter orders.”

“This kind of unpleasant situation must be avoided hence it is very necessary for UPU to stay away from the internal affairs of PDP and partisan politics generally.”

They urged all other ethnic or tribal unions other than political pressure groups and individuals, in the district, to completely abstain from endorsement of all categories of aspirants in the party