Ibori-Seunu: Defection sets stage for political battle in Delta

By Jimitota Onoyume, Assistant News Editor

The recent defection of the member representing Ethiope Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Delta State, Erhiatake Ibori-Seunu, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, from the Peoples Democratic Party , PDP, may upset political arrangements in the federal constituency if she desires re-election to the House.

The constituency is a combination of two powerful political areas, Ethiope East and Ethiope West. The representative of the federal constituency in the House of Representatives has always been rotated between the two areas under the PDP, an arrangement many have termed crucial to avoid unnecessary political bickering and rivalry. Although Ethiope West had the first shot at the House between 1999 and 2003, it was not from the PDP.

In 1999, Halims Agoda from Ethiope West first represented the constituency on the platform of the All Peoples Party, APP. In 2003, he re-contested and won on the platform of the PDP. He was re-elected again, thus completing three terms, two of which were on the platform of the PDP.

At the end of his two terms under the PDP, power shifted to Ethiope East with Akpodiogaga Emeyese of the same party representing the constituency in the House of Representatives. Loveth Idisi from the same Ethiope East in the PDP took over from Emeyese, thus completing the second tenure of Ethiope East in the House of Representatives.

Power then shifted back to Ethiope West, with Ben Igbakpa from the local government and the PDP organically taking over from Idisi of Ethiope East. Igbakpa could not secure a second term as he lost to Erhiatake Ibori-Seunu, also from Ethiope West, after a keenly contested primary. But it did not matter to the party since Igbakpa’s successor was from his Ethiope West local government area, and luckily for the party, Seunu-Ibori was from its fold.

Barely one year after Ibori-Seunu dumped the PDP for the APC, some members of the PDP in her federal constituency maintained that her defection was part of a calculated move to secure the APC’s ticket to be re-elected by 2027. She has not said anything about re-contesting for the same seat, probably because it may be too early to begin campaigning for such.

The PDP, after a meeting of its leaders and stakeholders in Ethiope East, vowed not to concede the turn of the Ethiope East block by 2027, insisting that the lawmaker in the House of Representatives must shift to the area.

The communique issued at the end of the meeting partly read: “That since the creation of the Ethiope Federal Constituency, which comprises Ethiope East and Ethiope West Local Governments, Ethiope West Local Government has produced the Representative of the Federal House of Representatives for a record 20 years: Halims Ochuko Agoda (1999-2011, three terms of 12 years), Ben Igbakpa (2019-2023, one term of 4 years), Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Seunu (2023—incumbent). While Ethiope East local government which is the largest and most populous among the two local governments of the federal constituency has only produced just two Representatives: Akpodiogaga Sunny Emeyese (2011-2015, one term of 4 years) and Loveth Idisi (2015-2019, one term of 4 years), which together amounts to eight years. As such, Ethiope East Local Government has decided unanimously that, come 2027, the Member representing the Federal Constituency must be from Ethiope East Local Government, for equity and fairness’ sake.”

The defection of Suenu-Ibori to the APC has further depleted the strength of the PDP in Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s senatorial district. While Etanabene Benedict of the Labour Party represents the Uvwie, Okpe, and Sapele Federal Constituency, which is the governor’s primary federal constituency, the other two federal constituencies within the senatorial zone are represented by the APC in the National Assembly. Francis Waive of the APC represents the Ughelli/Udu Federal Constituency, and now Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, who won on the platform of the PDP, is now of the APC

The senatorial zone is also represented in the Senate by Chief Ede Dafinone of the APC. He took over from the immediate past Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, also of the APC, who was the governorship candidate of the party in the last general elections.

Interestingly, Suenu-Ibori, as the name reveals, is the daughter of Chief James Ibori, a two-term governor of the state and chieftain of the PDP. It was reported that the former governor, who largely influenced the emergence of former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as governor of the state, parted ways with him over the choice of who should be Okowa’s successor from the Delta Central zone within the PDP.

Chief Ibori, a founding member of the PDP, has remained in the party despite the outcome of the last governorship election, where his choice did not emerge. However, he has been relatively inactive in the party. He was governor of the state at the time President Bola Tinubu of the APC was governor of Lagos State in the defunct Alliance for Democracy, AD. He has been relating healthily with President Bola Tinubu. In the estimation of some members of the PDP, the body language of the former governor reveals his soul has since left the party.

Chief Ibori has not made any public comment since his daughter defected to the APC. Probably, he sees that she is of age politically to decide her actions, having been a member of the Delta State House of Assembly representing Ethiope West State Constituency.

Suenu-Ibori defected with some prominent members of the PDP across the federal constituency to her new party.

The PDP, in the communique at the end of the meeting of leaders of the party in Ethiope East local government, also directed ward chairmen of the party to take necessary actions on any vacancy in the party’s executive due to the defection.

“Those who decamped and, until their defection, were holding any position in the party or an appointment is advised to resign with immediate effect. If otherwise, the Ward Chairmen of the 11 Wards are to effect their replacements immediately,” the communique read.

Meanwhile, the PDP has approached a Federal High Court in Warri in suit number FHC/WR/CS/126 to, among other things, declare Ibori-Suenu’s seat in the House of Representatives vacant.

It seems the stage has been set for a fierce political battle between the PDP and the APC over who will represent the constituency in the House of Representatives by 2027 if Hon. Suenu-Ibori decides to contest for the same seat in 2027.

Money may be a major deciding factor, and already some politicians from Ethiope East fear that the area may lack the financial muscle to insist on power rotation.

According to those who spoke to Sunday Vanguard, unless Oborevwori stands with the area, it will be safe to say that it will be a smooth ride to victory for Suenu-Ibori if she decides to remain in the House for a second term. Nevertheless, some have said in politics, you never say it is over until it is completely over.

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