Ex-Delta gov Ibori allies dump PDP

Key members of the Delta State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party comprising associates of former Governor James Ibori are dumping the party in droves.

Notable among the defectors are the former two-term chairman of Ethiope East Local Government Council, Faith Majemite; a former Ethiope East House of Assembly member, Chief Evance Ivwurie; a former Commissioner for Urban Renewal and Youth Development in Delta State, Dr. Karo Ilolo, and others.

Party sources said that many more PDP chieftains in Delta State including some top aides of the incumbent Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, particularly those dissatisfied with the outcome of the party primary, would dump the Delta PDP by the end of January.

According to sources, most aides disgruntled with the style of Governor Okowa’s government were merely waiting for their January salary before they move out as their fate was not guaranteed should the PDP win the governorship election in the State, come February, since the party had failed to engage in true reconciliation after the bitter primary.

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Barely forty-eight hours after Hon. Faith Majemite, an Ibori ally and former two-term chairman of Ethiope East Local Government Council dumped the PDP recently 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, also left the party.

Ivwurie, 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.

In his letter of resignation to his Ward 2 Chairman, PDP in Abraka, Ethiope East LGA dated 27 December 2022, Hon. Ivwurie also said it had become inevitable, though difficult, to end his membership and association with the PDP forthwith “since the party is now committed to elevating and spreading poverty and suffering across Delta State”.

The letter read partly, “I write to notify you of my resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party with immediate effect from today, the 27th of December, 2022 for the absence of good governance and complete derailment of the Party from acceptable norms, ideals, tenets and principles of democracy”.

It was gathered that the former Commissioner for Urban Renewal and Youth Development in the State, Dr. Karo Ilolo, left the party citing irreconcilable differences and poor leadership of the party as reasons.

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

The former commissioner stated in his letter dated January 1, 2023, titled ‘Letter of Resignation from the PDP’ revealed, “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.”