Chief Dr. Jubilant Uzuazo Igelige, JP, a prominent political figure in Delta State, has officially resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing a lack of value for loyalty and oppressive practices within the party. In an exclusive interview with The Trumpet Newspaper, Igelige detailed his grievances with the PDP, which he claims has stifled his political growth and failed to recognize his dedication to the party.
“I have paid my dues to the PDP, but they don’t value loyalty,” Igelige lamented. “I have suffered injustice in the party because some individuals believe I am too smart or too intelligent to be given the opportunity to grow. They conspire against me out of fear—fear that I don’t even understand.”
Igelige recounted a significant instance of perceived injustice following the death of Hon. Kenneth Ogba, a former Isoko South House of Assembly member. “The party directed that only those who contested in the primaries with Ogba should be featured in the election to replace him,” he explained. “Yet, despite my qualification, my name was deliberately removed from the list submitted to the party. That was a clear indication of the lack of value for loyalty within the PDP.”
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The former PDP stalwart also reflected on the events of 2023, where his role as the mouthpiece of the Isoko Development Union (IDU) became a contentious issue. “It wasn’t my personal decision to support an Isoko candidate for senator. It was a collective decision by the Isoko nation after analyzing the political situation. My mandate was to ensure Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas of the APC emerged victorious. Unfortunately, this decision became the major strike against me politically,” Igelige said.
He further alleged that his political entitlements, including his salary and other benefits, were withheld by individuals determined to halt his political progress.
In a move he described as “returning to his natural habitat,” Igelige announced his decision to rejoin the All Progressives Congress (APC), where he previously served as the first Local Government Chairman candidate of the party in Isoko South. “You will recall that I was one of the founding fathers of the APC. I even visited Tinubu in Lagos back then to sponsor my ambitions. I believe that if I had remained in the APC, my political career would have fared much better,” he stated.
Igelige expressed optimism about his political future in the APC, describing the party as his “home.” He disclosed that he would be officially welcomed back to the APC on Sunday, 12th of January, 2025, marking a new chapter in his political journey.
This development adds a significant dimension to the political dynamics in Delta State, as Igelige’s return to the APC is expected to strengthen the party’s position in the region. His exit from the PDP serves as a stark reminder of the growing dissatisfaction among party members over issues of loyalty and fairness in internal politics.
