PDP collapses in Ethiope East as over 24 key party leaders, Exco, others defect to APC

By Ovasa Ogaga,

This is certainly not the best time for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Delta State as the party yet again suffered huge losses following the defection on Monday of over 24 key party leaders, severing councillors, and Ward Executives in Ethiope East Local Government Chapter to the opposition party in the state, the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Receiving the decampees from the PDP, in Ethiope East Local Government Area of the state, the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Delta State, Elder Omeni Sobotie, said the victory for the APC in the March 11^th governorship election is sure.

Sobotie, while commending the defectors for taking the bold step of joining the progressive in the task of recusing Delta State from the PDP years of bad governance assured them of an equal stake in APC.

According to him, their mission on Saturday is to send “Okowa packing,” adding that “God disgraced Okowa during the presidential election; he was clothed with shame.”

Sobotie urged old members of the party to the event which was held at ‘Chief James Onanefe Hall’ at Olorgun Evance Ivwurie’s country home in Abraka, to embrace the new ones, just as he called for unity, saying without it, the APC will fail.

According to the party chairman, “we will win with a large margin. Okowa cannot come from Ika to determine who our governor should be in Urhobo land. Okowa insults everybody. The integrity of Urhobo is at stake and it will be defended with our blood. But this time not our blood but the PVC.”

Continuing, he said the APC rewards people based on their input and loyalty to the party.

Addressing the mammoth crowd that turned out for the event that was held in Abraka, the Chairman of the party in the local government area, Chief Julius Ogboru, said the occasion was historic.

Meanwhile, while responding to questions from journalists, the convener of the event and former Member of the Delta State House of Assembly representing the area, Chief Evance Ivwurie, said the programme was a huge success.

“You saw the councillor representing Kokori Ward 4, has decamped. You saw Okowa’s appointee, Honorable (Mrs) Blessing Adidi Owhegba, who resigned from the sour government of Okowa and the PDP Ward IV which is Okpara into the All Progressives Congress. You also saw our brother, Felix Okotie from Ward 9 (Eku), resigned from the party. He is a highly respected leader in PDP. You also saw one of the PDP aspirants for the House of Assembly, Hon. Okirigbi Emmalove, who also resigned from the PDP. So, this is not just an Abraka affair, it is a great resignation from the sour, detestable and very terrible administration of Okowa.

“The umbrella is torn and as you listened to what the chairman said, we are waiting for the burial of PDP because it is already dead and it is in the mortuary already,” he said.

To those still in PDP considering to defect also, he said: “Anybody still remaining in PDP should know that PDP is now an axis of evil. It is a satanic axis and any of them that still has a good mind have between now and Thursday, the 9th of March, 2023 to resign their membership from the ‘People Destroy People or Papa Destroy Pikin party’ because there is absolutely nothing left in PDP.

“I will advise any of them that have a conscience to know that PDP Delta State is a cult now and if you are not in the cult, or you are not Okowa, Egboigbe, Hillary or in the click or a documented illiterate, it is time to exit the ‘Papa Destroy Pikin Party’ (PDP). This is the time for them to resign and leave the evil party for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and we are ready to welcome them. Of course, we have the best candidate. The candidate of the PDP is not educated.

Present during the occasion were Chief Judith Enamuotor, Chief Faith Majemite, Elder Moses Ayeni, High Chief Comfort Okoro, Chief Emmanuel Idogor, Chief Lucky Orishe and many others.

Some of the key party leaders who defected to the APC include:

The current Honorable Councillor representing Ward 10, Egbo, Agbon, Ethiope East LGA, Hon. Monday Uvwo.The current Honorable Councillor representing Ward 2 Abraka and the Chairman of the House Committee on Revenue Mobilization, Hon. Kelly Edah, and the current Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ethiope East LGA Organizing Secretary Barrister Chief E. J. Efe.

Others are the current Vice Chairman, PDP Ward 3; Abraka, Ethiope East LGA, Mr. Monday Ikami; the current Vice Chairman, PDP Ward 1; Abraka, Ethiope East LGA, Mr. Bright Unuetara; Chief Gabriel Omajuwa (A. K. A Araka), the pioneer Chairman of PDP in Ethiope East Local Government Area and the present Chairman of all Ex-Chairmen of PDP in Delta Central.

The list also includes, the Hon. Dr. (Barr.) G. W. Ekakitie Esq., Honourable Councilor representing the good people of ward 2 from 2003 to 2007 and Secretary Ethiope East Local Government Council from 2014 to 2020; Mr. Adogbeji Mudiaga, current Secretary People Democratic Party (PDP) Ward Two (2), Abraka, Ethiope East Local Government, Hon. Ogboru O. Anthonia, current Woman Leader People Democratic Party (PDP) Ward Two (2), Abraka, Ethiope East Local Government and Hon. Mrs. Blessing Adidi Onoghwegbe, Member Delta Capital Territory Development Agency (DSCTDA) and Woman Leader People Democratic Party (PDP) Agbon, Ethiope East Local Government.

Others are, Chief Godwin Nikoro, a chieftain and a leader of PDP in Otorho ward 2, Abraka; Mr. Imene Ogho E, a chieftain and a leader of PDP in Ward 1, Abraka; Chief Odiriverere Kesito Oweh former executive member of PDP Ethiope East LGA Chapter, Pastor Emmalove Ochuko Ekiribi, former Local Government Council Chairmanship aspirant of PDP Ethiope East LGA Chapter, Ishomare Kate, two-time ward two (2) Ethiope East Local Government woman leader, Delta Political Vanguard (DPV) Ethiope East Chapter Woman leader and Special Assistance on Women Mobilization to DESOPADEC Commissioner.

Other PDP chieftains that dumped the party are  Chief Felix Okotie, a chieftain and a leader of PDP in Eku ward 9, Ethiope East LGA; Mr. Ojakovo Gift a chieftain and a leader of PDP in Abraka; Chief Joseph Ogune a chieftain and a leader of PDP in Abraka; Hon. Sammy Jemijaye a chieftain and a leader of PDP in Abraka.

Other are Mr. Ofieta John a chieftain and a leader of PDP in Abraka; Chief A. A. I. Emese a chieftain and a leader of PDP in Abraka, Mr. Elvis Eroeve a chieftain and a leader of PDP in Abraka; Mrs. Vera Okagbare a chieftain and a leader of PDP in Abraka and thousands of their followers and supporters across Ethiope East LGA.