THE Thurrock Independent Group, which has seen several members defect to join the Conservative Group in recent weeks, has announced its candidate for the Stanford East and Corringham Town ward in May's local elections.

And the group says it is determined to fight on and represent the interests of local wards by fielding candidates in most wards.

Gbenga Olajugbagbe has been named as the candidate for the ward, where he lives on the Crux estate.

He is the father of Ruti Olajugbagbe, winner of TV's The Voice competition, and last year he stood for the Independents in the Corringham and Fobbing ward, when he was endorsed by local community stalwart Shane Ralph, who won his seat in Stanford East and Corringham Town, only to defect to the Tories last month.

Cllr Ralph said at the time: "Gbenga does a huge amount of work with our local children in the schools in SS17. He has great insights and knowledge regarding the challenges local children and families face."

The Independents say that unlike Cllr Ralph, Mr Olajugbagbe is committed to the independent cause. The chairman of the independent group, Oliver Smith says: "This candidate is a local man who will put local priorities first.

"No matter the size of the bid, Gbenga will stand fast for his residents and will not be bought or duped by 'special interests' who are concreting over our borough!

"Gbenga is an active member of the community and has been a resident of the Crux estate for 21 years!"

Mr Olajugbagbe, who came third in Corringham and Fobbing last year with 255 votes behind sitting councillor Deborah Hueling, says: "The local councillor should be an individual of integrity who can champion the needs of the area and does not sell out for personal financial or reputational gain. Elected figures should prioritise their residents, not their own egos."

While the other political parties have not yet officially announced candidates for the ward, Thurrock Nub News understands Kristine Hebb, wife of Tory group deputy leader and Stanford West councillor Shane Hebb, will stand for the Conservatives, who see Stanford East and Corringham Town as a key target and were out canvassing today (Sunday, 16 February) while Labour seem set to be represented by either Val or Carl Morris.

Homesteads ward councillor Gary Byrne, one of just five remaining councillors aligned to the independent Group, has welcomed the selection of Mr Olajugbagbe and says that far from finished, the Independent Group is finding new support across the borough and it is intending to put candidates up for all the wards that will be contested on Thursday, 7 May.

There was something of a social media stir this week when it was revealed that former ward councillor Roy Jones, who won the seat for UKIP and then became a founder member of the Thurrock Independents, and who stood as a Conservative in the ward last year when he was beaten by Cllr Ralph, had not been selected for the seat, indeed he has not been given a candidacy anywhere in the borough.

That prompted local community activist Julie Sorrell-Wilde to go public with criticism of the Tories, saying: "After constant campaigning and relentless community work helping residents for many years it appears that Roy Jones is now surplus to requirements as there are no spaces for him to stand for election in the area that he has made such a massive impact on.

"The loss of this man to the area and to the hundreds of residents and community that he has supported will be massive.

"Considering he only lost out by 80 votes I really think that his party should reconsider this decision and put him back in a position where he can continue his work and serve the community as he has done for many years previously."