Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has told the people of Edo State to re-elect incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki in the Saturday governorship election, saying it is in their best interest to have Obaseki returned to office for a second term.
Okowa, Chairman of South-South Governors Forum, made the call at Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rally at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, on Tuesday.
The governor said that he and other PDP governors are in support of Obaseki’s re-election because of his sterling performance in the past four years.
Okowa stated that if Obaseki did so much in his first term in office, in spite of all the challenges he encountered, it will be in the interest of Edo people to ensure that he is re-elected for a second term to enable him execute more development projects in the state.
The Delta governor commended Obaseki and PDP in Edo for the Ward-to-Ward campaign for the Saturday poll, describing it as unprecedented. He urged the electorate to be vigilant and ensure that their ballots would count, adding that they should not be afraid.
The Delta State governor assured the people that he and all his colleagues in the South-South would be on ground on Saturday to ensure victory for the party.
“Let me commend Governor Obaseki and the Edo PDP for their campaign which they went round all the Wards in the state.
“This is unprecedented and very commendable because it is the first of its kind for any governor to campaign from Ward to Ward.
“Obaseki is one governor we are very proud of in the Governor’s Forum because of his high knowledge in economic development and good governance.
“He has done very well in this first term in spite of all the challenges he encountered in his former party and it is my firm belief that re-electing him for a second term is in the best interest of Edo people,” Okowa said.
The PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, at the campaign called on Edo people to punish the All Progressives Congress (APC); by voting Obaseki for a second term, pointing out that Edo is not Lagos where one man was in total control.
Chairman of the PDP National Campaign Council for Edo Governorship Election, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, called on the people of Edo State to turn out en masse to vote for Obaseki and protect their votes.
Also, PDP National Vice-Chairman in South-South, Chief Dan Orbih, emphasised that the party was in good stead to win the Saturday polls as the people had resolved to vote and protect their votes. He said that PDP’s main rival in the election relies on “Federal Might” to rig the polls, but that PDP in Edo was relying on God’s power and the people’s support to win.
Earlier, PDP Chairman in Edo, Tony Aziegbeni, had in his welcome address urged the people to stand firm during the polls, assuring that the party is behind them to ensure victory for Governor Obaseki.
The rally was attended by Governors of PDP-controlled states led by Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal. Others include Nyesom Wike, Ifeanyi Okowa, Douye Diri of Bayelsa, Prof. Ben Ayade of Cross River, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom.