Ahead of Saturday’s local government election in Delta, the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party , PDP, on Wednesday, staged a mega rally to seal its readiness for the election.
Addressing the rally, which held at the Cenotaph, in the state capital, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori expressed optimism that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairmanship and Councilorship candidates would all emerge victorious in the election.
He commended the party’s candidates for following his footsteps by campaigning rigorously in the communities, units and wards across the state.
The Governor said it was not possible for him to campaign for the party’s candidates in all the wards in the state, pointing out that the mega rally afforded him the opportunity to do so in Asaba and thanked the party’s founding fathers for their continuous support.
He chided a former Governorship candidate in the state for going to a live television programme to allege that the election would be rigged, saying that it was unfortunate that those who could not win their polling units in an election where they were candidates could allege rigging in an election that was yet to be conducted.
“I was watching Arise Television yesterday and Labour Party candidate for the 2023 Governorship election in Delta State, who couldn’t secure up to 50,000 votes in the last Governorship election is already cooking up allegations of rigging in the Saturday Local Government Council elections.
“A man who lost in his polling unit in the general election, went to Arise Television to allege rigging, even when the electoral umpire has assured us that modalities have been put in place for free and fair elections.
“You all voted for me in a free and fair contest, so, as you leave here today, use tomorrow which is the last day for the campaigns, to do road show, tell the people to come out on Saturday with their Permanent Voter Cards, PVC, to vote for all our party’s candidates.
“Don’t assume that they will write any result, because, any result that is not genuine, whether for Chairman or Councillor will not be accepted”, the Governor said.
He thanked the Chairmanship and Councillorship candidates of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Udu Local Government Area for decamping to the PDP, asserting, “this is good for democracy, if you assess your opponent and you know that you cannot beat him or her, don’t contest, support your opponent in the true spirit of democracy.
“We are doing well in the construction of roads, bridges and flyovers across the state, so, Deltans are aware that we mean well as a government and as we go to the polls on Saturday, there should be no form of violence, no fighting, just go there and cast your vote”.
He commended former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for joining in the campaigns at the Ward and Local Government in his area and pledged to continue sustainable development of the state in line with his MORE Agenda.
Also speaking, the State Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme, expressed optimism of landslide victory for the party’s candidates across the state.
He charged party faithful to turn out enmass with their voter cards on Saturday to deliver all PDP candidates for the continuation of infrastructural and human capital development across the state.
Immediate past Governor of the State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, said the PDP was adequately prepared for the July 13 elections having campaigned throughout the 25 local government areas and in all the wards in the state.
Okowa, who expressed satisfaction with the level of progress made in the state, said the opposition was not prepared for the election and urged party faithful to remain united as one political family and be wary of the antics of the opposition.
State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Kingsley Esiso, in his remarks, said the party was celebrating ahead of the elections, having campaigned round the entire state.
He said PDP had no opposition in the state and urged the people to continue to support the party in its quest for the advancement of the state.
At the rally, some former prominent members of the All Progressives Congress, APC across the state defected to the ruling PDP and pledged to contribute their quota to the growth of the party and the state.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, a former member of the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Benjamin Okiemute Essien assured Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of victory in Isoko in subsequent elections, pledging to contribute his quota to the growth and development of the state.
The rally featured goodwill messages from the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor; Hon. Nicholas Mutu of the House of Representatives; Chief Nkem Okwuofu; Senior Political Adviser to the Governor, Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo and Senator James Manager.
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