Delta 2023: More trouble for Delta PDP as key Ibori allies dump party, more to follow 

By Akpos Oghenetega,

This may not be the best of times for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Delta State as close key members of the party and associates of former Governor, Chief James Ibori, a former House of Assembly member, a former commissioner in the state and others are leaving the party in droves.

Advocate.ng also gathered from a reliable source that many more chieftains of PDP and some top aides of the governor who are dissatisfied with the outcome of the party primary and some other loyalists of Chief Ibori in Olorogun David Edevibe camp will dump PDP by the end of January.

The source added that most aides who are disgruntled with the style of Governor Okowa’s government are waiting for their January salary before they move out as their fate is not guaranteed should the PDP win the governorship election in the state since the party failed to engage in true reconciliation after the bitter primary.

Recall that barely 48 hours after Hon Faith Majemite, an Ibori ally and former two-term chairman of Ethiope East Local Government Council dumped the party citing heinous leadership impunity and hostile plots’ against her, another Ibori close associate, a PDP chieftain and a former Ethiope East House of Assembly member, Hon. Chief Evance Ivwurie has left the party.

The former Commissioner under governor Ibori, and Coordinator of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s National Poverty Eradication Program, (NAPEP, the Presidency), a graasroot politician in Ethiope East LG while stating his reasons for dumping PDP, noted that through the current Governor Ifeanyi Okowa-led government the future of the Delta has been mortgaged through massive and reckless borrowing.

Ivwurie also decried the elevation of impunity by the leadership of the party as state policy and attempt to undermine, embarrass and ridicule the Urhobo nation the imposing a person with questionable academic credentials as the party governorship candidate.

In his letter of resignation to his Ward 2 Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, in Abraka, Ethiope East Local Government Area, Hon. Chief Evance O. Ivwurie also said it has become inevitable though difficult to end his membership and association with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) forthwith since the Party is now committed to elevating and spreading poverty and suffering across Delta State.

The letter addressed to the Ward Chairman titled letter of resignation of my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) and dated 27 December 2022, read:

“I write to notify you of my resignation from the People’s Democratic Party with immediate effect from today, the 27th of December, 2022 for the following reasons:

“For the absence of good governance and complete derailment of the Party from acceptable norms, ideals, tenets and principles of democracy.

He also disclosed that he left the party “for neglecting and marginalizing my community, constituency and our entire state.” And “for mortgaging the future of the state through massive borrowing, lack of transparency and accountability.

Chief Ivwurie also frowned at the level of “maladministration, clannishness, greed, wickedness and third-term (via a puppet) ambition of the Governor.”

He queried what he termed the imposition of “a person with questionable academic credentials, an incapable and deficiently clumsy Governorship candidate on the Party. And an attempt at “undermining, embarrassing and ridiculing the Urhobo nation,” by Governor Okowa.
“For exacerbating a culture of impunity, imposition, arbitrariness, unethical conduct, hooliganism and lack of respect for and protection of lives and properties.

“Since the Party is now committed to elevating and spreading poverty and suffering across Delta State while squandering the state billions of naira, and given the continuous cries, appeals and requests of my teeming supporters from my ward to outside the shores of Nigeria, it has become inevitable though difficult for me to end my membership and association with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) forthwith.

“This is to enable me to reposition myself and my followers to provide better leadership and infrastructural development for my community, constituency and our dear state. Yours faithfully, Hon. Chief Evance O. Ivwurie,” the statement added.

In another related development, former Commissioner for Urban Renewal and Youth Development in the State, Dr Karo Ilolo, has also left the party citing irreconcilable differences and poor leadership of the party as reasons for leaving the party.

In a letter addressed to the Chairman of the party in Isoko South, Ward 2, Oleh, Dr Ilolo disclosed that there was a need for him to seek new alliances and platforms where loyalty, commitment and dedication are recognized.

In the letter dated January 1, 2023, titled: Letter of Resignation from the People’s Democratic Party, the former commissioner stated that “I hereby wish to tender my resignation from the People’s Democratic Party effective today, the 1st of January 2023.

“Irreconcilable differences in political paths and poor leadership structure in the party, especially in Isoko South LGA has necessitated my desire to seek alliances and platforms that recognize the commitment, loyalty and dedication,” the short letter said, wishing the party the best of luck as he seeks shelter elsewhere.