Two special assistants to governor join APC

As Onowakpor Declares for Reps

By Henry Adagbra

Two Special Assistants of Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor of Delta State, have led 5,000 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

This formed part of the highlights at Oleh, headquarters of Isoko South Local Government Area of the state, during the formal declaration of the former Chairman, Delta State Board of Internal Revenue, Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, for the House of Representatives, Isoko Federal Constituency, in the forthcoming 2019 elections.

From Left-Right: Hon. Benjamin Okiemute Essien, Former Member, DTHA, Joel - Onowakpo Thomas Ewomazino, House of Representatives aspirant, Isoko Federal Constituency, Prophet Jones Erue, Delta State APC Chairman and Chief Goodnews Agb during the official declaration of Hon. Joel-Onowakpo Thomas to contest for the House of Representatives, Isoko Federal Constituency at Isoko Central School, Oleh, Delta State

At the event, which held on Saturday, the Special Assistant to Governor Okowa on Youth and Community Development, who doubles as Chairman, Emede Community Union, Lucky Arumare, and the Special Assistant to the Governor on Women Mobilisation, Uyoyou Edhekpo, led more than 5,000 PDP members to defect to the APC.

Speaking at the event, Jones Erue, the state APC chairman said: "Governor Okowa will be shown the way out of the Government House by Deltans, because the people have concluded on enthroning an APC government come 2019 in Delta State.

From Left-Right: Pastor Silas Buowe, Hon. Benjamin Okiemute Essien, Former Member, DTHA, Joel - Onowakpo Thomas Ewomazino, House of Representatives aspirant, Isoko Federal Constituency and Hon. Lucky Okperi, APC leader during the official declaration of Hon. Joel-Onowakpo Thomas to contest for the House of Representatives, Isoko Federal Constituency at Isoko Central School, Oleh, Delta State

“PDP has nothing to offer Deltans anymore. Deltans are tired and have rejected the PDP-led Government of Ifeanyi Okowa. With the crowd I see here today, it’s a walk-over for APC in Isoko and the Government House come 2019. Hon. Joel-Onowakpo Thomas has come to liberate the good people of Isoko Federal Constituency from 16 years of slavery in the hands of PDP in the Federal House of Representatives. We must all give our full support to Joel-Onowakpo.”

In his message, an APC chieftain in Isoko, Williams Omoviro, referring to the current member representing Isoko Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Leo Ogor, said: "I am an Ozoro man like Hon. Leo Ogor. I can tell you authoritatively that we are tired of Leo. He has nothing to offer for the 16 years. Let's all give our support to Hon. Joel-Onowakpo Thomas for total liberation”.

Prophet Jones Erue, Delta State APC Chairman formerly handing over the APC symbol (broom) to Isoko House of Representatives aspirant, Isoko Federal Constituency, Hon. Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, while Chief Lucky Esije, Leader of APC in Isoko looks on during his (Joel-Onowakpo Thomas)  official declaration at Oleh Central School, Delta State

In his declaration speech, Joel-Onowakpo stated that his political interest was to "contribute his quota of national development".

He said: “I joined the PDP where I played active roles in building the party to enviable heights, culminating in my appointment as Chairman of the Board of Interval Revenue, Delta State, before I finally decided to call it quits with PDP, when all my entreaties against the misrule of the state and my beloved Isoko nation fell on deaf ears.

"I have, after due consultation, decided to formally declare to the Isoko people this day, August 25, 2018, here and now, that I am running for the nomination as a candidate, to fly the flag of the APC in the 2019 general election as member representing Isoko nation at the Federal House of Representatives, and put to an end to the current drift towards the enthronement of a political dynasty, which is alien to the Isoko people.”