Delta Governor and Vice-Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, has congratulated Senator Ademola Adeleke on his victory in Saturday’s governorship election in Osun.

Adeleke, the candidate of the PDP was announced winner of the gubernatorial contest in the state by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after polling 403,371 votes to defeat the incumbent, governor, Adegboyega Oyetola of All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 375,027 votes.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, in Asaba, on Sunday, Okowa described the election of Adeleke as “the affirmation of Osun people’s will” and called on Nigerians to always stand for good leaders with the interest of the people at heart as Osun people just did for Adeleke.

He stated that the electorate across the 30 local government areas of the state spoke loudly and very clearly in their affirmation of their choice of Adeleke as next governor.

He lauded former governor of the state, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; Senator Olu Alabi and other party leaders in the state for working together in the interest of PDP and Osun people.

Okowa noted that the election of Adeleke had signposted the reality of PDP’s determination to rescue Nigeria, saying “the mission has just begun”.

“Let me congratulate my brother, Senator Ademola Adeleke, on his victory in the July 16 governorship election in Osun.

“It is heart-warming to see you emerge as Governor-elect of Osun against all odds and I am grateful to the electorate in Osun for shunning entreaties of retrogressive forces who were ostensibly resolved on subverting the wishes of the people through vote-buying and other rigging strategies.

“Let me also thank the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for demonstrating true independence as required by the laws of our land and for improving on the logistics and conduct of the election.

“The most significant aspect of this victory is the peaceful outcome of the election as Osun people conducted themselves responsibly by ensuring that the election was devoid of violence,” he said.

The gôvernor also congratulated the PDP and the Chairman of the its National Campaign Council for Osun Governorship Election and Governor of Bayelsa, Senator Douye Diri and other members of the campaign council for their efforts which culminated to the victory.

He said the brotherhood displayed by PDP governors and other party members towards the election of Adeleke was what the country needed currently to take the nation to greater heights in 2023.

“Let me also congratulate our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Chairman of the PDP National Campaign Council and Governor of Bayelsa, Senator Douye Diri and other members of the campaign Council for their efforts which led to the victory of the party in Osun.

“I must also thank my principal and Presidential Candidate of our great party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President, Namadi Sambo and former President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, for their attendance at the rally in Osun, an action that contributed immensely to the outcome of the election.

“Going forward as a nation, we can only develop further if the people are allowed to chose their leaders at all levels without any hindrance as has been exemplified in Osun.

“It’s therefore, a clarion call on INEC to strive to do the right thing as an unbiased umpire.

“On behalf of the government and people of Delta, I congratulate you my dear brother and friend, Senator Ademola Adeleke, on your successful election as Governor-elect of Osun.

“It is my prayer that God will grant you wisdom, knowledge and the needed resources to attend to your campaign promises of taking away the darkness that pervades your state, Osun,” he added.

*Says Osun people expressed their will through ballot, hails INEC, Media, others

President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Senator Ademola Adeleke, candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), following victory of the party in Saturday’s gubernatorial election in Osun State.

With the election over, the President expresses conviction that the people of Osun have expressed their will through the ballot, and the will of the people must always matter and be respected in a democracy.

President Buhari notes that the successful conduct of the election is a further testimony to the maturity and commitment of all stakeholders – the electoral body, security agencies, political parties, the media, civil society and the electorate- to further strengthen the integrity of the electoral process in the country.

The President reassures the nation that the commitment of his administration towards having credible elections remains unshaken.

*Says Oborevwori candidacy guarantees landslide victory

National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Iyocha Ayu, and the National Working Committee, NWC, have been called upon to stop rhe ongoing sinister moves by a dreaded and undemocratic political cabal from imposing a failed and unpopular former governorship aspirant, Olorogun David Edevbie, on the party and people of Delta State.

The call was made by the leadership of Coalition for Media Politics and Governance, CMPG, on Thursday 14th July, in a statement signed by the group’s Chairman, Olorogun Dr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe Esq, Deputy Chairman Delta North, Engr Emmanuel Momah Chuks and Deputy Chairman Delta South, Hon Toju Ekengbuda.

CMPG posited that the call became necessary so as to save the party from foreseeable disaster in the forthcoming governorship election in the state should the undemocratic cabal succeed in using their powerful allies in high places to manipulate their way to impose an unpopular former governorship aspirant, Edevbie, on the party.

The group noted that the results of the governorship primary wherein Oborevwori scored 590 votes and Edevbie scored 113 votes, clearly revealed that Rt Hon Sheriff Francis Oborevwori, is far ahead of Edevbie in terms of popularity and leadership bond with the people across board, and possess the capacity to provide good governance.

“Edevbie polled a mere 113 votes and failed at the governorship primary while the winner, Rt Hon Sheriff Francis Oborerovwori scored 590 votes and was declared our party’s governorship candidate in Delta State.

“The governorship primary was witnessed and keenly supervised by all stakeholders including the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

“Edevbie has been scheming dangerously to unscrupulously become the party’s candidate through the back door, even though he failed woefully at the primary. His desperate moves to become governor at all cost may greatly affect our party’s performance in the 2023 governorship election in Delta.

“Edevbie is the only former governorship aspirant within the party who selfishly and shamelessly and unjustifiably dragged our party candidate to Court over false allegations of certificate forgery, among others. This is unacceptable and our PDP national leadership must act now before Edevbie crumbles the party in the state.

“The sinister move to cause disunity and disaffection within the party is based on Edevbie’s erroneous believe that he alone ought to be the next governor of Delta state, and therefore resolved to fight anybody that emerges as candidate of the party for the forthcoming election.

Edevbie’s unprovoked and selfish moves amounts to gross infraction on Delta PDP’s robust internal democracy and enviable sportsmanship sustained over the years. The NWC of our party must swing into action and take some decisive steps to stop Edevbie from rocking the boat of our party.

“We therefore urge our amiable national chairman, Senator Iyocha Ayu, our party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and other leaders to invoke the disciplinary measures against Edevbie with a view to averting the foreseeable danger of failure at the governorship election in 2023.

“Edevbie as an individual, as well as, his network of undemocratic cabal are not bigger and greater than PDP, our party. They are obviously slowing down the speed of electioneering success in Delta State.

“Oborwvwori is the choice of the people of Delta State, as can be seen from the political mass mobilization of eligible voters orchestrated by members of the Sheriffication Movement in the state. Delta is yellow for Atiku/Okowa and Sheriff/Onyeme 2023.

“Oborevwori is the worthy governorship candidate of our great party, PDP, in Delta State. We are also confident that darkness shall not prevail over light, his appeal shall succeed, but the party must act to speed up winning strategies ahead of the general elections.

“If Edevbie is unscrupulously imposed on the party through the back door, victory cannot be guaranteed during 2023 governorship election as already posited by political observers in the state.

“CMPG pledges her loyalty to the PDP and to the state leader/vice presidential candidate of our great party, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa,” CMPG said.