UDUAGHAN'S DEFECTION TO APC: “NOT A SURPRISE, LONG OVERDUE”…….FRED OGHENESIVBE.

The defection of the former Executive Governor of Delta state, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan has been described "as an attempt to protect himself against serial corruption charges by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and to join forces with Adams Oshiomole to remove Okowa from office, a dream that would further crash Uduaghan's political career in 2019".

Making this assertion is Executive Assistant to Governor Okowa on Communications, Dr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe who stated that, he has been vindicated over the recent defection of former Governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Iweta Uduaghan, to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The EA Communications in a statement made available to newsmen noted that Uduaghan technically defected to APC in 2014, immediately it became obvious that his governorship aspirant, Sir Tony Chuks Obuh was rejected by Chief James Ibori and other major stakeholders in the state.

Oghenesivbe recalled that after the party leaders settled for Gov Okowa before the gubernatorial primaries in 2014, Uduaghan went ahead to pick is first eleven advance team headed by Chief Ayiri Emami, to go prepare the stage for his later arrival in APC.

"Ayiri, it was who went round the state on the instruction of Uduaghan to recruit more people into the APC, and that effort brought about the earlier defection of Chief Paulinus Akpeki, Former Commissioner Kubenje, Barrister Jaro Egbo, Hon Stella Okotete, Chief Aginighan and a host of others into the APC after the 2015 general elections," Oghenesivbe disclosed.

According to Oghensivbe, Uduaghan has been involved in anti party activities as one of the major financiers of the APC while still in PDP and worked extensively with Olorogun Otega Emerhor and his team during the 2015 general elections but could not match the political sagacity of Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa and the Ibori Political structure hence Emerhor lost woefully in the gubernatorial race.

The EA Communications to Okowa disclosed that Uduaghan ordered APC State leadership in 2015, to break the backbone of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) through an APC sponsored faction headed by Chief Tuesday Onoge, to also fight Chief Great Ogboru for giving him (Uduaghan) series of electoral litigation while in office, a development which prompted a re-run election.

He asserted that Uduaghan hates Okowa with perfect hatred for undisclosed reasons which is why he (Uduaggan) decided to join forces with Adams Oshiomole who also hates Okowa; so that both haters of Okowa can give him a dirty fight in the forthcoming governorship elections in Delta State.

"Deltans should remain focused and continue to support Governor Okowa who has denied himself of luxury and material things so as to judiciously use the lean resources of the state for infrastructure and socioeconomic development of the three Senatorial districts.

"Uduaghan defected for two major reasons; to protect himself against serial corruption charges by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and to join forces with Adams Oshiomole to remove Okowa from office, a dream that would further crash Uduaghan's political career in 2019," Oghenesivbe