The Ethiope Federal Constituency Forum, on Saturday, November 29, 2025, inaugurated its Local Government Area executives for Ethiope East and Ethiope West Local Government Areas in a strategic move to strengthen unity and consolidate grassroots political structures ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The event, hosted by the Deputy Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Arthur Akpowowo, at his residence in Eku, Ethiope East Local Government Area, drew top political leaders and stakeholders across the two LGAs.
Speaking at the ceremony, the National Chairman of the forum, Chief Ighoyota Amori, described the gathering as a historic convergence of leaders committed to deepening cohesion and collective leadership within the constituency.
Administering the oath of office to the Ethiope East Chairman of the forum, Chief Midwest Iboyitete, and his Ethiope West counterpart, Hon. Bright Igbi, alongside other executive members, Amori stated that the forum would serve as the platform for determining candidates across all levels of elections — from councillorship and local government chairmanship to the State House of Assembly, National Assembly, governorship, and the presidency.
“We want to be united to ensure that from now till 2027 we decide on who should stand for us in all departments of elections,” he said, stressing that all decisions of the forum would be collective and binding. According to him, the era of political division in the constituency was over as leaders had resolved to speak with one voice.
Reaffirming the purpose of the forum, Amori explained that the inauguration was part of a deliberate strategy to consolidate the constituency’s strength as a pressure group within the All Progressives Congress (APC), capable of driving political processes and protecting the collective interest of Ethiope.
He added that the newly inaugurated LGA executives would oversee the extension of the structure down to the wards and units to ensure deep grassroots mobilisation.
“Ethiope Federal Constituency is one. Under APC we are united, under the Ethiope Federal Constituency Forum we are united. Whoever we decide to represent us will carry our mandate. Our votes will be unanimous in all elections,” Amori declared. He urged members to remain disciplined and steadfast, adding, “Anybody we agree should go will be the person to go.”
The National Secretary of the forum and Delta State Director of Protocols, Olorogun Sunday Onoriode, commended Deputy Speaker Akpowowo for hosting what he described as a landmark stakeholders’ meeting.
He said the inauguration fulfilled resolutions reached at the forum’s previous meeting, where leadership agreed to build structured executives at all political levels to boost grassroots coordination.
“The leadership decided that every local government should set up LGA and ward executives of the forum. Although we initially fixed December 29, 2025, for this exercise, today we are already inaugurating the LGA executives and have put together the ward-level lists,” Onoriode stated.
He explained that the forum’s operational strategy would follow a cascading leadership model, beginning from the LGA level and extending to the wards and units.
“Today we are inaugurating the local government executives. They will inaugurate the ward executives, and the wards will inaugurate unit executives. Every politics is local,” he remarked.
Onoriode expressed satisfaction with the quality of leaders selected to steer the process, saying he was “overwhelmed by the calibre and dedication” of the appointees, which demonstrated the seriousness of purpose of the forum.
He said the forum was focused on mobilising Ethiope Federal Constituency for President Bola Tinubu, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, and all APC candidates.
“We are here for business, not for play. Everything we do here represents the true leadership of Ethiope Federal Constituency.”
He also thanked leaders from the 22 wards for their attendance, noting that the forum emerged to bridge the absence of a unifying leadership structure at the federal constituency level.
“Today our leaders have put on ground a formidable force that will take us to the Green Chamber in Abuja,” he said, adding that the selection of the next representative to the House of Representatives would be determined collectively by the leadership.
Onoriode paid tribute to former lawmakers, including Hon. Halims Agoda, Hon. Lovette Idisi, and Hon. Ben Igbakpa, whom he said had all provided credible representation to the constituency.
“Whoever we produce from this gathering will be one of us who will continue to be with us,” he said, warning that any aspirant who fails to respect constituency leadership would not gain its support.
“We are one as Ethiope people and will continue to be one. Anybody who does not respect our leaders will not get our support.”
Host of the meeting, Rt. Hon. Arthur Akpowowo, described the event as successful, noting that it brought together virtually all notable political leaders of the constituency under one roof.
“It was worth it. All the known leaders of politics in Ethiope Federal Constituency are here in my compound. I am glad I pulled them together. It was a fantastic hosting,” he said.
Akpowowo explained that the inauguration followed the agenda of previous stakeholder engagements aimed at building a functional leadership structure from the LGA down to the ward level.
He said the development provided a strong framework for political mobilisation across Ethiope East and West ahead of future elections.
Reflecting on his political journey, Akpowowo reaffirmed his grassroots roots and commitment to respect for voters.
“I respect every voter, not just leaders. I call people by their names and nicknames. I respect voters, not delegates. That is the foundation of my politics,” he said.
He warned against political arrogance and the disregard of constituents by officeholders, stressing that respect and responsiveness were the bedrock of effective representation.
“We may not solve all their problems, but we must respect them and be responsive to them. Any public office holder who disregards leaders and voters should know that such a journey will not go far.”
In separate remarks, former House of Representatives member Hon. Halims Agoda, Deputy National Chairman of the forum Chief Bernard Edewor, Chairman of DESOPADEC Chief John Nani, Chief Philomena Oyearone, Ethiope West Local Government Chairman Pastor Christian Onogba, and Ethiope East Local Government Chairman Chief Augustine Ogedegbe commended the forum’s leadership for fostering unity between the two local governments.
They described the inauguration as a strategic step toward rebuilding a cohesive grassroots political structure capable of driving collective decision-making and producing credible representation.
The speakers urged continued discipline, unity, and sustained mobilisation for APC candidates, stressing that cohesion and internal democracy would guarantee lasting political relevance for Ethiope Federal Constituency.
The inauguration concluded with renewed commitments from stakeholders to work collectively toward consolidating the APC’s base across the constituency ahead of the upcoming electoral cycle.
