Former Delta Governor’s Daughter, Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, Resigns from PDP

By Lawrence Oyibo

Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, the member representing Ethiope Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives and daughter of former Delta State Governor, Chief James Ibori, has officially resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined the national ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).

In a statement released Thursday, Ibori-Suenu announced her resignation, citing exclusion from the State chapter of the party and the ongoing national leadership crisis within the PDP as key reasons for her departure. She also surrendered her membership card with immediate effect, signaling her complete disengagement from the party.

In her resignation letter, Hon. Ibori-Suenu expressed regret at the circumstances leading to her exit but emphasized that the internal divisions within the PDP had left her no choice. “I resign as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with immediate effect. My resignation was foisted on me by my complete exclusion by the State chapter of the party and by the lingering national leadership crisis which has riven the party into implacable camps,” she wrote in the letter, which was circulated to party officials and the public.

Hon. Ibori-Suenu’s resignation marks a significant moment in the political landscape, as she is the daughter of Chief James Ibori, who served as Governor of Delta State from 1999 to 2007. Chief Ibori, a prominent political figure in the state, was later convicted of fraud and sentenced to serve time in the United Kingdom, casting a long shadow over the family’s political legacy.

Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu’s resignation letter

Despite his legal troubles, the Ibori name has remained influential in Delta State, and the departure of his daughter from the PDP is bound to attract considerable attention.

This development comes amid a flurry of defections within Nigerian politics. Just as Ibori-Suenu’s resignation rang out, five lawmakers from the Labour Party (LP) also defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). These defections, including the notable exit of Ibori-Suenu from the PDP, underscore the growing discontent within some political parties in the wake of internal struggles.

The Labour Party, which gained significant ground in the 2023 elections, had been hailed as a potential challenger to the ruling APC, especially after its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, secured third place in the presidential poll. However, intra-party divisions have left the party grappling with its own set of challenges, despite its electoral successes.

The exodus of these lawmakers, including those from the LP, highlights the fragility of party unity in the Nigerian political system.