Sapele Main Political Actors Set To Defect; Igbuya Heading To APC, Anirah For PDP

The political dynamics in Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State is about hitting a troubling scenario as two main political actors holding sway in party politics in the area are set to defect from their various political parties.

Estranged former Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Chief Monday Igbuya who had since lost grip of his hold in the affairs of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state is set to defect to All Progressives Congress (APC).

While Igbuya is moving to APC, another key player in party politics in Sapele, Chief Felix Anirah who was believed to be the only visible opposition leader in Sapele has also perfected plans to decamp to the PDP.

Anirah, a former Sapele Local Government chairman and the House of Assembly candidate of the APC in the 2015 election is considered as a strong opposition force, been a grassroot politician with huge followership.

BigPen Online learnt that an estranged Igbuya who have lost his credibility in all fronts was being drafted to APC with the hope that some forces would pair him in the 2019 gubernatorial election as running mate to a governorship candidate from the Delta North Senatorial District.

A source who throws the joker said that some allies of Chief James Onanefe Ibori, former governor of Delta state, were trying to sell an unsellable Igbuya using Ibori to APC national leaders as a perfect pair with the aspiring Delta North politician apperantly as a strategic way of ruining his chances.

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“The calculation is that with Igbuya as a running mate, it will assuage the Okpe’s to vote for the APC, considering the fact that Igbuya has a considerably force in Sapele and Okpe politics.”

“However, Igbuya may not leave the PDP soon to avoid been recalled by the PDP leaders in Sapele who are using state machineries to reduce his political influence in Sapele”.

“With Anirah’s defection to the PDP, and the coming back into politics by Chief Charles Obule, the political structure of Sapele is now firmly in the hands of PDP, as there is no other viable opposition figure that can pull a stunt that Anirah pulled in 2015.

The source said that Anirah was woo back to the PDP reportedly by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s men in Delta Central Senatorial District, naming Chief Charles Obule, Senator Emmanuel Agwviarawodo and the Secretary to Delta State Government, Hon. Ovie Agas as those at the forefront of plans to capture Sapele, Okpe for Okowa.

Meanwhile, political associates of Anirah had hitched his planned defection on internal leadership crisis in Delta APC, lack of party cohesion and sense of direction.

An associate of PDP state chairman, Olorogun Kingsley Esiso, who preferred anonymity confirmed the defection plans of Anirah, saying that with the coming back of Chief Anirah to PDP, the party will not feel the effect of Igbuya’s defection to APC.

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“With Obule, Anirah and Akpeki fully back to PDP, Igbuya’s imperial reign have come to an end, we have finally tamed him politically, even if he goes to APC as been speculated, without Chief Anirah in APC; we have naturalized the effects of his defection.”

“Who else is left in the APC in Sapele? We are not talking about making nose on Facebook, politics is local, Chief Ede Dafinone the presume leader of the party is not on ground, you are a (reporter) did you see any notable figure during APC LG election flag off in Sapele?

“You can’t win election on facebook or in Lagos, let the APC use the local government election to show their strenght”.

Anirah is expected to formally join the PDP on 28th December, 2017.

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