The elders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State, have met with aspirants in the area as the Party primaries and 2019 general election draws near.
Addressing the party elders and aspirants, the Ika South PDP Chairman Hon. Collins Bello, said that the meeting was called in order to inform the Delta State House of Assembly aspirants that the party primary will be conducted on Saturday September 15, 2018, and to also tell them that they are not asking anyone to step down, but to plead with them that if any of them feels that he cannot continue the race to the end, such person should let the Party elders know, so that they will not blame the party or anyone for their failures after they must have lost at the primaries.
Explaining that the primary election they intend conducting is not a general election, but the party’s delegate election. While assuring that the aspirants would be given a level playing ground of free and fair election he called for a peaceful situation where everyone will be working together towards the common goal of the party. And urged them to shun campaign of hate and bitterness, since they are of the same PDP family saying, “We all are begging that we should work together and see how the PDP in Ika South can conduct the Primary election without any problem, we want a situation where after the Primary election the contestants will all embrace themselves”.
The aspirants who attended the meeting include, four Delta State House of Assembly hopefuls. They are the incumbent Hon. Festus Okoh aka Chuky Dandy, Chief Dennis Araro, Mr. Nduka Omodon and Amb. Paul Alika; while Dr. Philip Okwuada is the only aspirant for the House of Representatives election.
The aspirants were given the opportunity to address the gathering individually. Hon. Festus Okoh, pleaded with the other aspirants to step down and support him to actualize his second term ambition, emphasizing that for the sake of continuity, the more a member is in the house, the more he will be privilege to get a viable position as a ranking member.
Chief Dennis Araro, on his part, said he was fully prepared to contest for the election and urged the other aspirants to join hands with him in order to achieve his ambition.
Mr. Nduka Omodon, maintained that being a first timer does not stop one from performing creditably as long as the person is creative, focused, vibrant, out spoken and has the capacity to represent members of his constituency effectively. He stated emphatically that he is still in the race.
Speaking in the same vein, Ambassador Paul Alika, said he is still in the race and looking forward to the party primary election next month.
In a brief remark, Dr. Philip Okwuada, the House of Representative aspirant for the Ika Federal constituency, said he is ready for the election, saying that he is not stepping down for anybody, I am only pleading that you should appeal with the other contestant in Ika North East Local Government Area to step down from the race because it is the turn of Ika South Local Government Area to produce the next candidate for the position.”
After listening to the contestants, Hon. Bello, the party chairman urged that the losers after the primaries, to support and work with their brother during campaign in order for him and the party to emerge victorious after election.
