By Young E. Freeborn, Warri
Delta State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, has ruled out imposition of candidates in the forthcoming local government elections in the state.
Governor Oborevwori who disclosed this at the PDP Delta Central Stakeholders meeting held at his Osubi country home, said Delta State Independent Electoral Commission, DSIEC, would soon come out with a timetable for the conduct of the election.
He said: “Delta State is one of the most solid states in Nigeria. Very very soon we will have our local government elections. Like what the state chairman of our party said, it is DSIEC that is in charge. They will come out with timetable after their meeting with the parties.
“Only popular candidates that the people love and generally accepted by all stakeholders, will emerge as candidates of the party.
“We will not accept any candidate through the back door. For anybody to emerge, it must be a collective decision from the wards and must be a popular candidate. Collectively we must agree on candidates so that the primary election can be smooth.”
The governor had earlier thanked the party leaders for their support and for the vote of confidence passed on him and his administration.
“I appreciate our leaders for standing by me since after my swearing-in. This is the first time that we are holding a meeting like this.
“You have been praying for me and supporting me, God will continue to bless you all. It is good for us to be united as it is in other Senatorial districts.
“I will not disappoint Deltans. Delta State is PDP and PDP is Delta State and what is happening in other states is not happening here. There is no power tussle or fight in Delta. Everything is going on well and our people are happy.
High point of the meeting was the passing of vote of confidence on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for his enormous performance in nearly one year in office.
The vote of confidence was moved by the former secretary to the State Government, Rt. Hon. Festus Agas and seconded by former member of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Emmanuel Ighomena.
In moving the motion, Agas said Governor Oborevwori has continued to steer the ship of state by faithfully implementing the MORE Agenda through the execution of life changing projects across the three senatorial districts of the state.
On his part, state chairman of the party, Dr Kingsley Esiso said it was the responsibility of leaders from the district to continue to support the Oborevwori led administration in the state.
He said, following the expiration of the tenure of the outgone executives at the wards and local governments, Caretaker committees have been set up to function for three months.
He said the National Executive Committee of the party had put machinery in motion to elect substantive executives through congresses.
Earlier in his remarks, chairman, Delta Central PDP, Chief Patrick Fovie said the meeting was called to deliberate on issues that would move the party forward in the district and the entire state.
