BREAKING: Joel-Onowakpo Dumps PDP

Joel-Onowakpo Thomas

Immediate past Chairman, Delta State Board of Internal Revenue, Joel-Onowakpo Thomas who was appointed as Coordinator, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), for Delta, Edo and Rivers States has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), BigPen Online can report.

Joel-Onowakpo, a protege of former Delta state governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, who was among the twelve named as state Coordinators of FIRS by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration, announced his defection from the PDP on Friday via a Facebook post.

His resignation is coming few days after APC national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole threatened to weed out PDP loyalists who were appointed to served in the Buhari’s administration.

But Onowakpo who is seeking to contest the Isoko Federal Constituency Seat in the Federal House of Representative come 2019, said that his decision to leave the PDP was on personal grounds and above all the interest of the Isoko people.

He said, “Today, I met with the executive and members of Ithihikpebe Campaign Organisations, to officially inform them of my intention to run for the house of representatives.

“I also met with the executive of the People Democratic Party Emede Ward 05 and resigned my membership of the party.

“I’ve taken this step after consultation with my family, friends, business and political associates. This step is for the interest of the entire Isoko people Viz-a-viz my personal interest and in line with my ideology and philosophy which is firmly rooted on justice and fair play. In few days I will unveil my new party”.

BigPen Online recalls that Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources opted to join the APC in a similar circumstances after he was appointed by President Buhari.