By Kelvin Ohoror
The Emede Development Initiative has labeled the consensus candidate selection of one Prince Kola Dennis Obrogo as a mere joke, that the kangaroo process they used is not in the interest of other aspirants and APC party faithfuls from the community.
The group led by its coordinator, Comrade Odomero Ogbere in statement which was made available to newsmen frowned at the news of the kangaroo process, aimed at disenfranchising some constituents who are vying for the Isoko South Constituency I seat in Delta State House of Assembly, come 2027 general elections.
The statement reads in parts; “We have been observing the political developments in Emede with very keen interest. For the first time in the history of Emede the community could appear to parade 11 persons intending to vie for the seat of Isoko South Constituency 1 in the Delta State House of Assembly. Yes! it is believed that the Constituency 1 seat should rotate to Emede by an unwritten political zoning which has been practiced over time between Emede, Oleh and Irri, the three communities that made up the Isoko South Constituency 1”.
The group believe that “This big brother zoning arrangement has been working overtime like what has a Divine Heaven stamp as the only time the Political leadership mistakenly allowed an incumbent from Oleh to get a second tenure ticket he lost the seat to an opposition Party candidate from Irri at the general election”.
They opined that “And since then the political class refused to jettison the norm of the 3 communal rotational arrangements. And this was despite the fact that all incumbents have always sought for a reelection but are always humbled at the primaries”.
According to the statement; “What is more worrisome about the Emede current political development is the present claim by one of the aspirants by name Prince Dennis Kola Obrogo on social media platforms and through messages he is personally sending to everybody especially the political class in Isoko and Delta State that he has been endorsed and elected as the sole APC candidate for Isoko South Constituency 1 through mock primary election done at Emede”.
The group further said that “Impeccable source reaching us says that the process he claimed led to his emergence as an endorsed sole candidate of APC in the forthcoming 2027 election was a manipulation by Prophet Jones Erue, the former APC State Chairman who has been boycotting all State stakeholders meeting and functions of the Party but now chooses to confined himself to the local politics of organizing and endorsing candidates in a way and manner that is usually questionable.”
Continuing, the statement also affirmed that, “the erstwhile All Progressive Congress Chairman in Delta State, Prophet Jones Erue, did it in the time of Chief Ogaga Ifowodo versus Michael Paul Emumena Delta State House of Assembly APC primaries in 2021 which eventually killed the political career of Ogaga Ifowodo, a Literature and legal icon”, noting that, “he equally did it to Mr. Vincent Egbogbo, the immediate past APC LGA Chairman in the just concluded LGA congress. Even when the whole political leadership is taking a direction, Prophet Jones is holding endorsement meeting for Mr. Egbogbo giving him and a section of Oleh people hope that he is helping them to actualize Egbogbo mandate at Abuja.”
The group in the statement lamented that, “Prophet Jones is at it again, giving Prince Dennis Obrogo another illegal endorsement. As the illegal endorsement was tearing the community apart. We gathered that Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas who happened to come from Emede summoned a meeting to Elomaz Hotel, Asaba to discuss the political development in the community with a view of nipping a political crisis in the board”.
“We also learned authoritatively that the Senator haven’t heard a briefing from Hon. Orezi Esievo and Pastor Austin Igbine and all the intended aspirants acknowledged that what Prophet Jones did was illegal, unconstitutional, deceitful but however, he will appeal if we could allow it be as he doesn’t want to interfere in the affairs of selecting a preferred aspirant from Emede.
That his reason is because the one he did in 2015 turn into a strained relationship with Pastor Austin Igbine a long time friend, big brother and political ally and a host of others.”
“At the end of the meeting hosted by the Senator all other aspirants withdrew from the race except Hon. Emakpor Odogu (I Have A Dream) who claimed it is his turn citing his 24 years ambition and this being his fourth time of contesting for the position highlighting his growing political popularity. And Prince Dennis Kola Obrogo who is parading himself as the winner of the Prophet Jones illegally conducted primaries when the Party has not released guidelines”.
The group further frowned at Prince Dennis Kola Obrogo parading himself as the sole APC candidate in the forthcoming election. They think this misinformation is a desperation taken too far.
