SDP Inaugurates 12-Member Caretaker Committee to Re-organise Party in Delta
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) National Working Committee on Saturday inaugurated a 12-member Caretaker Committee for Delta State headed by Mrs. Esther Ikule with a mandate to re-organize and re-position the party in the State and also recruit fresh members, especially youths, in all Wards and Local Governments across the State.
The inauguration, according to the NWC, was consequent to the dissolution last Tuesday of the party's Executive in Delta State led by Mr. Oke Idawene "following its inability to resolve the protracted crisis within the party in the State".
The National Vice Chairman, South-South of the SDP, Barr. Fred Owotorufa, while performing the inauguration held at the party's Delta Central Secretariat along Warri-Sapele Road noted that the selection of the Caretaker Committee members was based on their "broad experience, competence, character and good team spirit".
He disclosed that the Caretaker Committee has been given 90 days within which to conclude its assignment at the end of which the party's State Congress shall be conducted to elect a new Executive Council, by the SDP Constitution and Electoral Act 2022.
While charging the Caretaker Committee members to work as a team "to plant the party positively in the consciousness of Delta State and Nigerians", he exhorted that there must be no factions in their activities adding that they should always resolve issues by consensus and stay the course.
"Party interest must be supreme. Loyalty to the Party and the Governorship Candidate/Leader must be uppermost. Eschew bitterness at all times. Do not work in isolation or at cross-purposes. Avoid undercutting one another. Together, you should strive to unite the party, grow the party, and also, grow with the party", he stated.
He enjoined the Caretaker Committee members to "embark on aggressive membership recruitment into the party, especially youth and women" saying that this must be daily, and continuous.
"It must be at all levels of the Unit, Ward, LGA, and the State. Comb every nook and cranny - the marketplaces, schools, buses, eateries, workplaces, business environments, the church, and mosque", he emphasized.
The Caretaker Committee members, in a three-point Resolution shortly after their inaugural meeting, passed a *Vote of Confidence* on the party's Governorship candidate in Delta State, Chief Kenneth Gbagi assuring that the Committee will continue to support Gbagi in the pursuit of his mandate at the Governorship Election Tribunal until justice is dispensed in the matter.
The Caretaker Committee noted that "at no time did the SDP executive in Delta State, before it was dissolved by the NWC on 2nd May 2023 met, discussed and agreed to write a letter dissociating the SDP in Delta from the election petition filed by Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi"
"Therefore, any purported letter signed by the former Chairman, Oke Idawene is, and was not authorized by the Party. It is fake, it is null and void and of no effect whatsoever and should be disregarded in its entirety", the resolution signed by the Caretaker Committee Chairman, Mrs. Esther Ikule read partly.
The Caretaker Committee also passed a vote of confidence in the SDP National Chairman, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, the National Secretary, the NWC and National Vice Chairman, South-South and expressed deep appreciation "for the excellent leadership, direction, and support in steering the Delta State Chapter of the party to overcome its current challenges."
