BEVERLY HILLS, October 03, (THEWILL) – A former State Coordinator of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), for Delta, Edo and Rivers States, who had also served as Chairman, Delta State Board of Internal Revenue and chieftain of the APC, Hon. Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, has said that he is not contemplating defecting from the All Progressive Congress now or in the near future.
Onowakpo spoke on Saturday following speculations making the round that he was mulling defection back to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the backdrop of the recent defection of former governor of Delta state, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan.
The party stalwart said he is not leaving a party where he is card-carrying member and had emerged as the one and only (unopposed, unanimously adopted) House of Representatives candidate in the 2019 election.
He urged his constituents to remain focused and steadfast, saying that despite the challenges the party is currently facing, it would rebound.
“Let me put it on record here that, I am a member of the APC, a card carrying member of the APC, the one and only (unopposed, unanimously adopted) House of Representatives candidate of the party in 2019 election.
“I have no plans now or in the near future to leave the APC for another party. (This is without prejudice to my right of association). If there are rumors (which is usual in politics), please ignore same.
“I am therefore encouraging all of you to remain focused and build bridges and support all the organs of the party in the Federal constituency.
“We may be in difficult times, but I believe with perseverance, we will overcome. Onowakpo wrote in a statement.
A protégé of former governor, Dr Uduaghan, he had resigned his membership of the PDP at his local Emede Ward 05 in Isoko South Local Government Area of the state in July 2018.
He later joined the APC same month where he contested for Isoko Federal Constituency in the 2019 general election but lost to incumbent House of Representative member, Hon. Leo Ogor.
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