Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, took the flag bearer of Labour Party in the 2023 election in the State, Ken Pela, to the cleaners over a protest and allegation of the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), rigging the July 13 local government elections in the State.
Oborevwori, who spoke for the first time since after the 2023 election which saw him surmounting 38 legal fireworks regretted that Pela, who could not win his own polling unit, could go live on Arise News Television.
Oborevwori who spoke on Wednesday July 10, 2024, at the Grand Finale and mega rally of PDP held at the Cenotaph, Asaba, the State capital, remarked 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.
Hear him: “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, but to the best of my knowledge, the electoral umpire has assured us that modalities have been put in place for the election to be free and fair.
“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 Voters Card, 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 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 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.
Speaking at the rally, Deputy Governor of the State, Sir Monday Onyeme, expressed optimism of landslide victory for the party candidates across the state.
He charged party faithful to turn out enmasss 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 that the PDP was adequately prepared for July 13 elections having campaigned throughout the 25 local governments and in all the wards in the state.
Okowa who expressed satisfaction with the level of progress made in the state, said that the opposition was not prepared for the election and urged party faithful to remain united as one political family and told them to be wary of the antics of the opposition in the state.
State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Kingsley Esiso, in his remarks, said the party was celebrating ahead of the elections believing that it had gone round the entire state for campaigns.
He said there was only one political party in the state and urged the people to continue to support the party in its quest for the advancement of the state.
Also at the rally, 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, saying; “I am a political bulldozer in Isoko” and pledged to contribute his quota to the growth and development of the state.
The rally featured goodwill messages from 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.
