Isoko Reps Race: ‘Ailing’ Leo Ogor, PDP Are After Sympathy Votes – Sources

If the only reason minority leader in the House of Representatives, Leo Ogor decided to stand for a fifth term is to bank on the strength of sympathy votes, then he has already lost the real elections.

Ogor, with his present health condition should certainly not be in the race but if claims by many of his constituents that he wants a fifth tenure, to recoup his losses suffered from corruption cases and ill-health, then his fate has been decided before the polls.

The lawmaker has been on the radar of the anti-graft agency, Economics and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over contract scam and had reportedly spent a lot trying to wriggle free in a case where a court ordered his “arrest sometime ago”.

Ogor, fondly called “Oyibo Isoko”, has been in the Federal House of Representatives, representing the Isoko North/South Federal Constituency of Delta State under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) since 2003.

Reports say he actually abandoned his desire to go to the Senate in 2019 as was alluded to by Isoko North PDP campaign Publicity Director, Nelson Egware and resorted to contest house of representatives seat again, a familiar ground for him.

The lawmaker, as at when he was first elected in 2003 had promised to “effect good governance in Nigeria through the act of making good laws”. He lived up to this through his vibrancy in the House but has lost popularity over his efforts to cling to power and probably using his present condition to seek for ‘sympathy votes’.

“Certainly, that’s what Ogor is doing. He is banking on sympathy votes and those nudging him to continue knows he can’t withstand his main opponent, Joel Onowakpo Thomas, said Aso, one of the constituents calling for Hon Ogor to withdraw.

Pundits say as at the time Ogor first contested for the position, he didn’t merit the mandate, he only got it on the altar of thuggery and violence that was associated with early PDP elections in the country.

“He didn’t win then because of any pedigree and has none to showcase. He had no track record except being a kernel dealer and as reports would say helping some close relatives who were seeking means to travel overseas.

Ogor who won re-election several times after 2003 based on PDP rigging machinations have held on to power for 16 years but critics say it was time for him to retire and go home. The media has been awash with his deteriorating health condition and his inability to coherently communicate, a development which analysts say would hinder his chances.

“Isoko has gained so much awareness over the years that representation is a serious business. Ogor has done well in the past and his efforts are highly noted but he cannot hold on forever to a mandate Isoko people entrusted to him as if it was his birth right”.

“Certainly, he is no longer a man that is fit to represent the generality of the Isoko people in the House of representatives. Maybe he can represent the interest of a section that are nudging him on now but that set cannot give him the required votes in February, an analyst said.

Political watchers say the PDP candidate who was once a vibrant lawmaker became estranged with party leaders ostensibly because of his arrogance, and unreasonable overestimation until recently when reconciliation was brokered.

One thing that would hurt Ogor is the reports of his divisive utterances. Few weeks ago, he was quoted to have made the disgusting comment that caused wide outrage on social media. He was quoted to have said: “The facts are very very clear. And how are they very clear? Isoko North has two constituencies and Isoko South has two constituencies. If Isoko North has two constituencies and Isoko South has two constituencies, how can Isoko South come and take the Isoko North constituency? That means they are taking three and these people are taking one.

“Is that possible? Is that possible? I say Is that possible? Isoko North has two constituencies and in the sense of it, Isoko North has 13 wards and Isoko South has 11 wards. How can they come and take three and we will take one? Is that possible? Please and please and please, go and tell them that they have missed the point. We will take this battle to their footstep.” (end of quote).

From his assertions, it is clear Ogor has lost touch with reality and highly affected by ill-health. Though his media aides had since denied the statement credited to him as “doctored”,  the Leo Ogor that many know, in his right senses is capable of making such statement’.

“He sits ingloriously amid negative records for being an arrogant legislator”, Aso said “but he would later rescind, and apologize in a video that was unfortunately re-edited many times before it was made public”.

“This was a man who by now should remember how he once rebuffed an elderly Isoko man who phoned him concerning his ill-health (same ailment that he’s facing today) to stop calling him because according to the source, “he was not in Abuja to shoulder the hospital bills of all the Isoko people who are sick”. That’s the kind of man he is said to project outside the chamber and home with his people.

“So, today when you read Ogor is embarking on medical outreach for stroke patients, don’t be swayed. Don’t think it is a kind gesture because the reality is that it is a product of guilty conscience. A man who insulted an old man who worked for him in previous elections, thinking as a federal lawmaker he is immune to sickness himself should not be pitied with sympathy votes”, the source added.

“A man who doesn’t believe in law of karma even as many still doubt it until it happens to them should eat the humble pie when it happens. The same Ogor who once said he can’t treat or foot bills of a stroke patient is the one desperately carrying out a deceptive diagnoses and treatment at election period for stroke patients?, sources queried.

The awareness in Isoko is so high that no body is ready to vote out of sympathy for anybody. Some PDP members led by Anthony Ovrawah, maintaining that they wouldn’t be part of the sympathy re-election bid of Ogor had recently aligned with Onowakpo, Ogor’s main rival. Some politicians who goof around, thinking election in Isoko is still “business as usual” lost their elections on the social media pages before they lost it eventually during the primaries.

The point is that, things are now being done differently in Isoko. The Isoko nation is desperately in need of somebody that would act differently. Leo Ogor doesn’t fit in now to the class of those who are ready to speed up Isoko progress and take her to the “next level”.

Omoviero alas Kingibe is an Ozoro and Ogor’s kinsman but have asked the lawmaker to return home after completing his fourth term. “Hon. Leo Ogor is our son and brother. We cherish him just as we cherish every Ozoro indigene. However, we must be truthful to ourselves and be ready to deal fairly with other kingdoms and communities in Isoko.

“For 16 years, Isoko people have been considerate and lenient with Ozoro Kingdom for allowing us to produce the member representing Isoko federal constituency in the House of Representatives. Ozoro should not be seen attempting to hold on to the office for the next 4 years. Such will portray us as greedy and highly clannish people”, Kingibe said.

The politician however urged Ozoro and other communities in Isoko to support a “candidate from another community and Hon. Joel-Onowakpo Thomas meets all the requirements, according to him, adding, “He is a great son of Isoko nation, who has proven himself worthy in everything that has been committed to his hands before now. Let our son, Leo Ogor come back home when he completes his fourth term because Isoko is not exclusively owned by Ozoro”, Kingibe reiterated.

According to constituents in Isoko, “the days when representative go to Abuja or Asaba, stayed there for four years without a single people-oriented project influenced back home is gone for good. The days where lawmakers sit in Abuja and collect mouthwatering pay whereas the youths are the ones doing the advocacy to attract both state and federal government to the plight of constituency on social media is gone. The days when lawmakers influence constituency projects to themselves without questioning is gone.

“The days where PDP will use Leo Ogor that is physically sick but is being nudged to carry on to represent Isoko people is left unchallenged is gone. The days where a Leo Ogor that would grab all contracts and deprive Isoko youths opportunity to be self-reliant is gone. The days where a Leo Ogor would become a ‘sit tight’ lawmaker over a position that ought to rotate among the two local governments for 16 years is gone.

“The days where a Leo Ogor would use the common patrimony of the people to build mansions for himself and family, establish himself to the detriment of those whose mandate he holds in trust is gone. Isoko nation cannot afford to send a man who talks arrogantly to elderly people as their representative”, constituents including supporters of his main rival, posited.

The social media is flooded with how Ogor is embarrassing his supporters left, right and centre in his desperation to cling onto power. A man who ought to be in the vanguard of a united Isoko nation cannot be the one fanning embers of disunity just because he wants to retain his seat after 16 years of holding on to it, an analyst said, adding, “we can no longer allow a man who provokes anger each passing day with his divisive utterances to be the torchbearer for Isoko nation”.

The ruling party in Delta State, PDP, could probably have had a brighter chance in the race with Johnson Erijo on the scene but alas they settled for Ogor, a lawmaker whose relevance is fading by the day.

“Currently, opposition party in Delta, APC, is soaring and they are fielding strong candidates, like Joel Onowakpo Thomas who has strong financial base and massive grassroots support”, Ovuakporie, an APC enthusiast said, adding “PDP has lost the February election long before the D-day”.

Onowakpo is a leading contender in the race and many of the constituents believe he will do well in both Isoko North and South Local Government areas that make up the federal constituency. The APC candidate enjoys so much goodwill and is said to have built widespread relationships with the electorate in both councils. This people are optimistic that he would clear the votes against Ogor, his main challenger.

(Editing by Joe Ogbodu)