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From Paul Osuyi, Asaba
Eight governorship candidates and the leadership of their political parties in Delta State have withdrawn from this Saturday’s election.
The candidates told journalists in Asaba that they were abandoning their ambition in total support for the candidate of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Sheriff Oborevwori.
They include Prince Henry Eze of Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Emeka Bidokwu of Action Alliance (AA); Oghenejabor Onome of African Action Congress (AAC); Cosmos Annabel of Action People’s Party (APP); Emmanuel Ogba of Action Democratic Party (ADP); Okolie Austin of African Democratic Congress (ADC); Fred Obi of Accord (A) and Umudane Sylvester of Booth Party (BP).
Their withdrawal came after about 24 hours when the candidate of Zenith Labour Party, Emmanuel Okoh also stepped down for Oborevwori.
Speaking on behalf of the eight candidates, Henry Eze of APM said their was in recognition of the massive achievements of PDP, especially Governor Ifeanyi Okowa administration in the state.
According to Eze, Delta is a traditional PDP state and for stability and furtherance of an atmosphere for inter-party harmony and cohesion, it became necessary to adopt a governorship candidate with good political credentials, pedigree and general acceptability as consensus candidate for the 2023 Governorship Election.
“The choice of our consensus candidate fell on Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori of the PDP who happens to be the current Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly.
“Oborevwori has worked very hard, embarked on ward-to-ward campaigns and done wide consultations with virtually all known stakeholders in the state.
“Delta State political stakeholders believe in continuity and the present governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has performed creditably well in office and it is therefore natural that another PDP governor should continue from where he stopped in order to consolidate on the gains of his administration,” he said.
He added that it was common knowledge that All Progressives Congress (APC) administration in the country had plunged Nigeria into untold hardship, created an embarrassing security situation that led to banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and other security challenges.
“The recent acute fuel scarcity in Nigeria, the biting Naira squeeze and near collapse of our educational system has made it clear that the APC government is not one to vote for.
“As Nigerians battle to upturn the stolen Presidential mandate by Ahmed Tinubu, we should not on the other hand be repeating the same mistake by installing the leprous APC government in Delta State,” Eze stated.
Eze further remarked that the eight governorship candidates came together to endorse Oborevwori because the PDP is “a team player, having become the longest serving Speaker in the history of the Delta State House of Assembly and the first to transmute from one administration to another.
“Oborevwori is a calm, calculated workaholic, a devout God fearing Christian who can be entrusted with the management of human and material resources.
“Delta people can no longer endure the pains of another APC government after causing suffering, anguish, deaths and pains that is making Nigerians look like beggars in their own country.
“Like the Americans would say, there is no changing the winning team. PDP governors in Delta have brought peace and development to the state and there is no reason why we should change a party that is doing well.
“We have taken this all important and crucial decision with the backing of the relevant organs and membership of our various political parties.”
