Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba
Amid final electioneering by the contending political parties in the rescheduled Edo State governorship election, Senator Clifford A. Ordia has said that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was fully prepared for the election on Wednesday
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Ordia, who is the senator representing Edo Central senatorial district in the National Assembly and a chieftain of the PDP, told THISDAY on telephone that the controversial postponement of his party rather than disorient the party has actually helped its unity.
He said that the party’s leadership, led by its state chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, has responded well to the challenge thrown by the sudden postponement announced by INEC just two days to the initial September 10th election date.
“I can tell you in clear terms that we are prepared for the September 28 new date”, Ordia said, adding, “PDP was prepared to win the governorship before the postponement of the election, but I’d say PDP is very ready for the rescheduled election. In fact, the people of Edo Central are more than ever before ready to vote PDP and give the party overwhelming victory next Wednesday.
“You saw our press conference after the postponement; the position of the party was reported in all the papers and television. The leadership of our great party in the state, led by Chief Dan Orbih, has responded well to the challenge, the party’s leadership is united, speaking with one voice and majority of the people are clearly behind the PDP. I expect nothing short of a landslide victory for our party on September 28.”
He said that the party did not waste any time lamenting the postponement of the election but had quickly got over the issue and intensified its campaign to every nook and cranny of the state.
Ordia also said the PDP was not worried by the reported attempt by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to intimidate members of the opposition especially the PDP and use of money to induce the people to support its candidate.
The senator urged the people to remain peaceful as they go to the polls, saying the PDP has been carrying out its campaign in a peaceful and civilized fashion hence the people are very pleased with the party.
Similarly, the chairman of Esan South-East Local Government Area of Edo State, Mr Lawrence Odiase, also said that the election postponement might turn out a blessing for the PDP candidate, Barrister Osagie Ize-Iyamu, as the party has “been able to meet and persuade the less than 10 percent of people who were thinking of voting the APC candidate.”
Odiase stressed that that “Edo Central, which is our Esan-land, has been so marginalized in the about eight years of Governor Oshiomhole that the entire Esan people have resolved to vote against any candidate that Oshiomhole and the APC put forward.”
Although, Edo State is controlled by the APC, the PDP appeared to have fought back into reckoning as a strong political party in the state winning two out of the three senatorial districts during the last national legislative election in 2015.
