By Onome Oghenetega
Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, a founding leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, says the party is better and stronger without Chief Cyril Ogodo, a former deputy state chairman of the APC who recently defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The renowned banker turned politician said Ogodo and others who dumped the party for PDP did so for ‘stomach infrastructure’ and were of no value to the APC before their defection to their new party.
He also stated that the Emerhor Political Family (EPF), a political pressure group under the APC, remains intact and stronger without the defectors and would continue to work for the victory of APC both in Delta and at the national level.
Emerhor, however, dismissed media reports insinuating that EPF members were defecting with handful of its members led by Ogodo.
In a statement on Wednesday clarifying the position of the Emerhor Political Family (EPF) in Ogodo’s defection, the former APC governorship candidate in the state said drawing EPF into the defectors’ drowning political career was mischievous.
Emerhor, who was the first politician in Nigeria to contest an election on the platform of the APC, described those leaving as “few misguided and disgruntled individuals” and of no political value.
“It is not true that members of the Emerhor Political Family, EPF, are decamping to the PDP as reported, the truth is that only a few misguided and disgruntled individuals are involved.
“Only Chief Ogodo, Chief Kohwo and a few who have now become stomach politicians are decamping after allegedly receiving cash inducements as ‘rally mobilisation’.
“Emerhor Political structures are intact. Hon Chief Alfred Oloko is the State Coordinator and Head of the EPF. Chief Cyril Ogodo was never the Head. The EPF elders Forum is also intact.
“The Elders Forum is meeting this week to replace Chief Sylvester Kohwo, the erstwhile chairman. Indeed, I met with these few over this last weekend and after our discussions, it was clear to me that it is greed that is behind their defection”, the statement noted.
He noted that as individuals, “they (defectors) are free to associate with any group or party in their political quest” but stressed that it was mischievous for them to use EPF to hype insignificant defection from the party.
The APC chieftain further noted that the defection of a handful of individuals whose membership of EPF is at best parasitical, doesn’t anyway diminish the resolve of genuine members of EPF to join other progressives to rescues Delta come 2023.
