Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, the representative for Ethiope Federal Constituency in the National Assembly and daughter of former Delta State Governor James Ibori, has described her decision to leave the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a strategic move to protect her political ambitions.
She believes the PDP was actively working to stifle her political career, prompting her defection.
Speaking at an empowerment program held in Oghara, Ethiope West Local Government Area, Ibori-Suenu made bold statements about the PDP’s diminished relevance in her constituency and Delta State as a whole. During the event, she distributed various items to her constituents, including vehicles, motorcycles, sewing machines, and water pumps, as part of her efforts to empower her people.
She expressed her dissatisfaction with her former party, saying, “The wind and lightning that would destroy PDP is here. We will bury PDP in Ologbo River, the Bridge between Delta State and Edo State. I am already at home; APC is supreme. The people in PDP wanted to kill my political aspirations, but thank goodness that I have finally left.”
Ibori-Suenu also took the opportunity to thank her supporters and APC leaders who had welcomed her into the party.
She added, “I thank all of you for your support. God will continue to bless all of you. My leader, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, God will bless you. My leader, Hon. Halims Agoda, God will bless you. All my leaders, God bless you. God will bless all of you.”
Her defection has been seen as a significant blow to the PDP in Delta State, particularly in the Ethiope Federal Constituency, where her influence is substantial. She confidently asserted that her departure marked the end of the PDP’s dominance in the area.
Reacting to Ibori-Suenu’s move, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, the immediate past Deputy Senate President and a key leader in the APC, expressed his delight at her decision to join the party. He praised her political strength and influence, describing her as a “political bulldozer.” Omo-Agege expressed optimism about the APC’s chances in Delta State in the upcoming elections, stating, “She is a political bulldozer, and with her support and others, APC would be able to take over Delta State come 2027 elections.”
The defection of Ibori-Suenu, who comes from a prominent political family in Delta State, signals a significant shift in the state’s political dynamics. Her influence and resources are expected to bolster the APC’s efforts to gain a stronger foothold in the region. For Ibori-Suenu, this move represents a new chapter in her political journey, one she believes will be free from the constraints she faced in the PDP.
