Defection Fever in Delta, As Okowa, PDP Core Loyalists Dump Party For APC

It is indeed not the best of times for Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), as gale of defections continues to hit the ruling the party in the state.

No thanks to the main opposition party in the oil-rich state, the All Progressives Congress’ (APC), as the APC campaign train continues with its hard hitting on critical strongholds of Okowa’s camp and the PDP in the state.

During the week, a close ally of governor Okowa and former Commissioner for Urban Renewal, Dr. Karo Ilolo, and two-time chairman of Ethiope East LGA, Faith Majemite, dumped the PDP for the APC.

Speaking on Saturday, during the APC ward-to-ward campaign at Uzere, the hometown of Okowa’s strongman, Askia Ogieh, Ilolo said: “The PDP umbrella is torn. We are totally committed to the cause of the APC, and we shall win.”

Ogieh is the Managing Director of Delta Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), which is considered as Governor Okowa’s financial bunker for the prosecution of the 2023 election.

Also speaking at event, Majemite discribed the PDP as a party of ‘thieves’, saying that in seven and a half years, the PDP, under Governor Okowa, has received N4.2 trillion, but the state is still undeveloped and poor.

“They are all thieves. If PDP comes here to campaign, ask them, where’s our money? Until they answer your question, don’t listen to them,” she said.

Goodluck Obrogor, the brother of Ogieh, stole the day’s show, as he led 177 defectors to denounce the ruling PDP and pledge loyalty to the APC.

According to Obrogor, Uzere people are in the throes of oppression and intimidation. He, therefore, pleaded with Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, who also, is the APC governorship candidate in the state to liberate them.

“Obarisi, please see this place as your own home and come and set us free from the shackles of slavery imposed on us by the PDP,” he said.

Others who defected to APC included James Miller, former personal assistant to the majority leader of the Delta State House of Assembly; Uzere community youth leader, Olotu Ode; Fred Uye, Edafe Agbaka, and other members of the Uzere youth movement.

Among the decampees are Okpokoro Precious, Azinoh Urieh, Adaka Frank, Ewomazino Ojabekie, Obi Endurance, Endurance Oluku and Ezekiel Urete.

Also, former Deputy governorship candidate of the ADC, James Igbi, led a cross section of party leaders and elders in Uzere to decamp to the APC.

In Aviara, former members of the PDP led by Ureghe John-Mark, an Aviara ward executive member, publicly tore his PDP cards to show his defection to the APC.

John-Mark stated that Aviara people have been used and dumped, and that they are fed up with PDP and have decided to pitch tent with APC.

Reacting to the defections, Omo-Agege said by the sincere decision of former leaders and supporters of PDP to dump the party and embrace APC, Bahorun Askia and Okowa have passed judgement on themselves.

“They should know that the time of politics of intimidation is over. They know me and I know them. I can’t be intimidated.”

He lamented that Uzere, the second place after Oloibiri where oil was discovered in Nigeria, still looks decrepit notwithstanding the over N4.3 trillion the state has received as revenues generated from oil producing communities in the state, including Uzere.

“Is this Uzere, the oil rich producing community? Did you offend Okowa? How could Askia be so comfortable with making Uzere people Internally Displaced Persons during floods?

“With the resources from Uzere, you are not supposed to have problems with flooding. Instead of Askia to use his office to help his people, he chose to intimidate them.

“Uzere does not look like an oil producing Community. By God’s grace, when I become governor, I will consult with illustrious indigenes to ask them what the incoming government should do for Uzere,” Omo-Agege said

According to the APC candidate, “Okowa is deceiving himself, but he will not be vice president. Our next president is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and our Vice President will be Senator Kassim Shettima, both of the APC.”

He urged the people to come out on election day, stare down PDP and Okowa and vote all APC candidates. He assured supporters of adequate security on election day and urged them not to fear intimidation by the opposition.

Omo-Agege assured the people that he would ensure that Aviara community is fully linked to the national grid. He also promised to consult with the traditional ruler to address other challenges of the community.

The defectors were received by the Delta State APC Chairman, Elder Omeni Sobotie, who described the younger brother of Ogieh as the biblical Jacobian twin that has seen the light and prayed that Uzere never experience bad leadership and darkness again.