Ibori-Suenu Defection: Unwarranted media attacks on Amori won’t stop replacement – Ethiope leaders

As the defection of the former member representing Ethiope Federal Constituency, Rt Hon Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, continues to attract media fanfare, the leaders of Ethiope Federal Constituency PDP Forum, rose from a meeting on Thursday, insisting that unwarranted media attacks on Chief (Senator) Ighoyota Amori won’t stop Ibori’s replacement at the Federal House of Representatives.

The group noted that instead of addressing constitutional issues raised in connection with Erhiatake’s unlawful and morally defective defection, some misinformed persons decided to personalized the issue, making it look as if Chief Amori has scores to settle with Hon Erhiatake.

The  leaders pointed out that the only interest of PDP, party faithfuls and supporters in Ethiope Federal Constituency led by Senator Amori, is to use lawful means to restore PDP mandate through by-election to replace Hon Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu at the green chamber.

Senator Amori, Rt Hon Arthur Akpowowo, Prof Nyerhovwo Tonukari, Hon Etagherure Ejiro Terry, Sunday Onoriode and other leaders of the Forum, who were present at the meeting held at Chief Amori’s Asaba residence, insisted that Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu ceases to be a seating federal lawmaker by virtue of a Court Affidavit she deposed to, unseating herself upon defection to another political party.

The meeting resolved that neither Chief Amori nor any leader of Ethiope Federal Constituency PDP Forum would resort to insults, senseless abuses and media attacks in the course of restoring PDP’s mandate through Courts of competent jurisdictions, assuring that the state governor and leader of PDP in Delta State, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, shall continue to spread socioeconomic and infrastructure development across the three senatorial districts.

The Forum assured that PDP shall effortlessly win the governorship, State and National Assembly elections, and that includes Ethiope Federal Constituency in 2027, pointing out that the handful of political comedians supporting Hon Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu do not have the electoral value to win their units.

Ethiope Federal Constituency PDP leaders also resolved at the meeting to inaugurate the group on the 7th day of February, to signify a dawn of a new era in the political landscape of the constituency and beyond, and in full scale mass mobilization to upscale PDP political supremacy.

In the same vein, the Publicity Secretary of the Forum and Director General, Delta State Bureau for Communications and Orientation, Dr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, said member of the Forum has no personal scores to settle with Hon Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, but that the needful must be done as contained in Section 68(1)(g) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, and further validated by the Affidavit deposed to by Erhiatake prior to 2023 general elections, now binding with vast legal consequences.

“We won’t join issues with political comedians and jesters attacking our Forum’s national leader, Senator Ighoyota Amori. Our communication policy is to clearly state facts in issue, devoid of insults, abuses and petty squabbles.

“Hon Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu had long distanced herself from PDP since the day she collected her Certificate of Return in 2023. She’s trying to be smart, but we verily believe that PDP mandate shall be restored through by-election in the near future.

“She has been politically naive and docile from the day she was sworn-in as a federal lawmaker. Hon Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu bluntly refused to attend all constituency and state party meetings of PDP, and did not at any material time honoured invitations for Party meetings, functions and special events at the LGA and State levels.

“Erhiatake’s excuses for defection goes to no issue; they are flimsy, laughable, inconsequential and repugnant to natural justice, which is why the PDP seat at the House of Representatives is now vacant as encapsulated in Section 68(1)(g) of the CFRN, 1999, as amended.

“She solemnly agreed to vacate PDP seat at the House of Representatives vide a valid and potent Court Affidavit she deposed to, unseating herself automatically from the very minute she defected to APC Delta,” Oghenesivbe added.