Delta APC Disowns Arausi, Odhegolo, Others Over Endorsement Of Okowa

State Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress, Delta State Chapter, have disowned two of its chieftains, Joe Arausi and Abikelegba Odhegolo, who led others to endorsed Governor Ifeanyi Okowa second term ambition.

The party also approved the reported suspension of the duo by the ward executives of the party in their respective local government area.

BigPen Online had reported that the two leaders threw their weight behind Okowa’s reelection at a joint meeting of Elders Council of APC in Isoko Federal Constituency and members of the PDP, citing the principle of rotation of political offices which they said favours Governor Okowa’s return to Government House.

Reacting to the development, the state chapter of the APC however said that the “stage-managed and purported endorsement” was done by two friends of the governor and not at the instance of APC leaders of Isoko Nation or Delta state chapter of the party.

This was contained in a statement by the Barr. Sylvester Imonina, Publicity Secretary, APC, Delta state and obtained by BigPen Online on Wednesday.

The statement reads in part: “that Chief Arausi and Hon. Odhegolo, some time ago, had misunderstanding with their APC Wards’ Executive over their anti-party dispositions for almost a period of one year.

“That some members of the SWC of our great Party and some leaders of thought from Isoko Nation waded into the political battle of the duo, in view of the fact that the Party wanted cohesion and peace at all levels of the Party.

“That Chief Arausi and Hon. Odhegolo refused to listen to voice of reason, rather, they resorted to more orchestrated divisive tendencies.

“That because of the trouble they were fomenting, APC, Oleh, Ward 1 suspended Chief Arausi from the Party, while members of Executive  of Ozoro Ward 2, in their own wisdom kept Hon. Odhegolo at arms length.

“That Chief Arausi and Hon. Abikelegba were not and had never been part of APC caucus or Leaders’ Council in Isoko land.

“There was no member of APC of Isoko Nation that joined Chief Arausi and Hon. Odhegolo in their self-seeking pursuit, as the duo were/are no longer members of the Party.

“These were the state of things as it concerns the duo before now. Though, it was not the wish of APC that Chief Arausi and Hon. Odhegolo stray away from the Party, and journey to political oblivion. However, the Party had to stamp her authority on the position of their Wards Executive, since Chief Arausi and Hon. Odhegolo were unrepentant in their unholy ventures. APC, Delta State did not, and will not lose sleep over their unwarranted and unsavoury political journey.

“It was  a known fact that within the Party, they were playing the role of Bull in China shop. Their dispositions towards the Party were very unhealthy to the survival of the Party.

“All Progressives Congress, Delta State, wants to assure all teeming members and supporters of the Party that despite the fact that some persons are trying to paint the Party in bad light by creating false impression of our great Party, the Party leadership is doing all within her power to consolidate on the peace and harmony achieved so far in the Party.

“Deltans are enjoined to keep hope alive,  as the evil machinations against APC in Delta State is because the enemies and political vampires within and outside Delta State know that the time for the liberation of Delta State is at hand”, the statement added.