SINCE Nigeria’s return to civil rule 25 years ago, the country has consistently strengthened its democratic foundations, with five presidents – Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan, Muhammadu Buhari, and current President Bola Tinubu leading the nation since 1999.
A democratic state is defined by its people, the electorate, choosing their government through free and fair elections. Democracy empowers citizens to exercise their rights directly or through elected representatives, ensuring freedom of assembly, association, religion, speech, and property.
It also guarantees citizenship, consent, and the right to vote, as well as protection from governmental overreach and minority rights, all underpinned by the rule of law.
In line with the principles of true democracy, Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori has consistently upheld and practiced democratic values since his election in 2023. With his experience as the longest-serving Speaker of the State’s Parliament, spanning over six years, Governor Oborevwori has remained dedicated to achieving sustainable development across the state through his MORE Agenda.
Committed to ensuring democratic governance at the local level, Governor Oborevwori and his predecessors, including Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, have ensured that local government Chairmen and Councillors are elected by the people, maintaining a seamless administration in the state’s local government system.
Even before the Thursday’s Supreme Court ruling on Local Government Autonomy, Delta State has always ensured that Councils in the state operate maximally without any undue interference android interruptions.
Speaking at the grand finale and mega rally of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, for Saturday’s Local Government elections held at the Cenotaph, Asaba on Wednesday, Governor Oborevwori predicted victory for the party (PDP) Chairmanship and Councilorship candidates in the July 13, 2024 Local Government elections in the state.
Oborevwori, who publicly said he believes in credible elections, commended the party’s candidates for following his footsteps by campaigning from community to community, unit to unit and ward to ward.
He said that the mega rally in Asaba had afforded him the opportunity to campaign for the party’s candidates and thanked the party’s founding fathers for their ceaseless support.
He took a swipe at a former Governorship candidate in the state, for going on a live television programme to allege that the elections would be rigged.
According to the Governor, 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.
“I was watching Arise Television yesterday and the 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, was already cooking up allegations of rigging in the Saturday yesterday’s) Local Government 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 elections to be free and fair.
“You all voted for me in a free and fair contest; so, as you leave here today, use tomorrow (Friday) which is the last day for the campaigns, to do roadshow, tell the people to come out on Saturday (yesterday) with their Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs, 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, (yesterday) there should be no form of violence and 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.
