The reelection bid of the house of Representatives minority leader and member representing Isoko federal constituency, Leo Ogor, has suffered a major set back following defection of multitude of his party members, Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) at his paternal home town of Idheze, Isoko South local government area of Delta state to the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Isoko federal House of Representatives, Joel-Onowakpo Thomas (JOT).
The mass defection took place Wednesday when the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Isoko federal House of Representatives, Joel-Onowakpo Thomas and the APC House of Assembly candidate for Isoko South constituency 1, Benjamin Okiemute Essien and other prominent leaders of the party, stormed Idheze community to open the APC office ahead of the general elections.
The PDP defectors while rejecting the house of Representatives minority leader and member representing Isoko federal constituency, Leo Ogor, who they described as their son, said the rejection of Ogor followed his “monumental failure” and lack of basic amenities in their community, adding that the sixteen years of the federal lawmaker is a waste and never brought nothing but bitterness to them.
According to the former PDP members, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Isoko federal House of Representatives, Joel-Onowakpo Thomas (JOT) and the APC House of Assembly candidate for Isoko South constituency 1, Benjamin Okiemute Essien, represents light in the land as such they have no option than to follow light.
Cross section of the APC leaders in the community as well as other indigenes, said, the entire community has rejected their sons, the house of Representatives minority leader and member representing Isoko federal constituency, Leo Ogor and former house of Assembly member representing Isoko South constituency 1, Ross Uredi and vowed to deliver all the candidates of the APC from the presidency election to the house of Assembly election.
In their separate speeches, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Isoko federal House of Representatives, Joel-Onowakpo Thomas (JOT) and the APC House of Assembly candidate for Isoko South constituency 1, Benjamin Okiemute Essien, welcomed the PDP defectors to the APC family and thanked the people for the reception accorded them as well as their unalloyed support.
Essien, former house of Assembly member representing the Isoko South constituency 1, enjoined the people to come out enmass and cast their votes for all the candidates of APC from “top to bottom”, describing Joel-Onowakpo as a “star” that must be followed to the promised land.
On his part, Joel-Onowakpo Thomas (JOT), assured the people of brighter days even as he tasked them to come out in their large numbers to vote for the candidates of the APC in the February 16 and March 2, 2019 general elections.
At Ovrode community, Isoko North local government area of the state, the Odiologbo of the community, HRH Clement Akudo, said his people have been under captivity, marginalised and neglected but with the coming of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Isoko federal House of Representatives, Joel-Onowakpo Thomas (JOT), light has found his community.
After listening to the speech of the APC federal house of Representatives candidate, HRH Akudo, gave his royal blessings to the APC candidate, saying that Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, shall succeed in his House of Representatives race come February, 16, 2019 which shall bring good fortunes to the Isoko federal constituency that have been denied the people for good sixteen years adding that the entire Ovrode people have no choice than to throw their full weights behind (JOT) to win.
Shortly after the visit to the Odiologbo of Ovrode at his palace at Ovrode, indigenes of Ovrode community, under the umbrella of Ovrode Grassroot Movement (OGM), mainly of Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) members, endorsed the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Isoko federal House of Representatives, Joel-Onowakpo Thomas (JOT).
According to the group, “Ovrode people have resolved not to vote for the incumbent house of Representatives minority leader and member representing Isoko federal constituency, Leo Ogor, who has since been officially communicated in that regard. So, Ovrode is solidly with Hon. Joel-Onowakpo Thomas for House of Representatives”.
The Joel-Onowakpo Thomas (JOT) campaign train also visited Aradhe, Ofagbe, Okpe communities, all in Isoko North local government area of the state where the campaign train was given a rousing welcome and mass support from the people.
Among those in the JOT campaign train includes Israel Afoke, House of Assembly candidate, Isoko South constituency 2; John Araka, chairman of JOT campaign Council; Silas Buowe, DG of JOT campaign organization; Lucky Okperi; APC leader, Isoko South, Ambrose Okuhor, DG of Ithihikpebe; Uyoyou Edhekpo, Director of logistics and women mobilization; Emakpor Odogu, Director of protocol; Goddy Ewerode, DDG of JOT campaign organization, Isoko North; Andrew Egunoma; Atumu Felix; Lucky Arumare and among others.
