Solid APC Strategist defects to PDP

James Ibori (in blue wrapper) with others at the thanksgiving
service in celebration of his release from prison

A die hard critic of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta state, Barrister Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, has dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC), a party under which platform he criticized the PDP for over three years in Delta state.

Oghenesivbe, who came into prominence during the run up to the 2015 general elections, began his ride into the murky waters of politics when he emerged as the communication manager of the a PDP aspirant, Tony Obuh during the preparations for the party primaries in 2014.

But Obuh, who was powerfully supported by the former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, lost the PDP primaries to the incumbent Governor Ifeanyi Okowa. Following the woeful failure of his candidate, Oghenesivbe was taken over by his Urhobo APC governorship candidate, Olorogun Otega Emerhor.

His job was principally to handle the communication and media job of the Emerhor, a job he did perfectly well, but since APC has no stronghold in Delta, his candidate could not win the election, although there were allegations of rigging, an issue which has become prominent in the politics of Delta state.

And as a trained lawyer, Oghenesivbe powerfully engaged the Okowa campaign team through the media. During the campaigns leading to the 2015 elections, Oghenesivbe rolled out media strategies that the Okowa multi-media crew could not circumvent. His main tool was the online and social media, especially the facebook where he was vigorously attacking the Okowa's government.

Even as his candidate lost the election, he was still vigorously campaigning against the Okowa’s government. During the tribunal through to the Supreme Court judgment, Oghenesivbe powerfully engaged the Okowa's team and brought them down with his media strategies. He dug out the past history of Okowa, some of his short comings, where he failed, the corruption allegations against him and the need for his probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Gov. Okowa and Barr. Fred Latimore

His writing prowess and application of language could not be matched by the multitude of Okowa’s team, they were left on the defensive but their defensive engagement could actually not convince the average and even the educated people of Delta state. However, his media strategy could not give any political success to his master, Otega Emerhor. Eventually, Emerhor fell out at the Supreme Court in attempt to overturn the electoral victory of Governor Okowa.

But as soon as the pursuit of electoral litigation was over, the APC in the state became enmeshed in internal crisis. There was a serious leadership problem which rocked the party and tore it apart. Various groups broke out with dissident views on who should emerge as leader of the party which is yet to gain foothold in the state.

The internal squabbles disintegrated the party and the members were sharply divided. This development led to the national headquarters of the APC delegating minister of Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, to take over the leadership of the party in the state pending when peace eventually returns.

But in the process of all these, the noise about the return of the former governor of the state, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, who has been in London prison, began making wave but with no specific date of his return in mind. While the drama continues, unknown to the people, Ibori was already in Nigeria and in a matter of hours he was in Oghara, his community where he escaped from over five years ago.

But with the belief that the return of Ibori, who is widely known as the father of Delta politics and a demi-god to the people undermining the degree of corruption leveled against him, Oghenesivbe made a U-turn.