Press Statement by Delta State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi on Tuesday, October 15, 2013 in Asaba

Distinguished gentlemen of the press, I welcome you all to this briefing. You will recall that on 12th October, 2013, INEC conducted a bye election in Delta Central Senatorial District of Delta State to fill the vacant position which the death of Senator Pius Ewherido created. The result of the said bye election has been released by INEC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the greatest and largest party in Delta State, in Nigeria and in Africa, won overwhelmingly.

To this end, I want to thank the great people of Delta Central Senatorial District for this massive support given to our party. We can only assure them of efficient and effective service to the good people of Delta State.

Let me also thank the INEC for a job well done. To the security agencies of this great nation, we say a big thank you for disappointing those who wanted to use the exercise to maim, burn, steal, kidnap and destroy the properties and lives of innocent Deltans. I want to appeal to you, our dear security agents, not to be deterred by the unguarded statements of professional political failures and neophytes. To the defeated candidates and their parties, I say a big thank you for participating in the election which has afforded you all the opportunity of experiencing the full weight of the PDP political machinery and revival in Delta State.

I have read and heard the comments of some of the defeated candidates and their parties so far on the elections, but as the Igbo adage goes “you cannot beat a child and deny him or her the right to cry”. Yes, they can cry for the beating or thrashing just like we, the African people cried during the colonial rule in Africa and our experienced fathers kept telling us to “weep not child”.

Distinguished gentlemen of the press, I have read and seen the press statement and comments from some of the parties and candidates that participated in this election. Our first reaction was to ignore them as that of “weeping children”. But it has now become necessary to put the records straight for the world to judge, especially that of Chief O’Tega Emerhor of the APC. In rejecting the election, he said that “the environment was militarized with road blocks where voters were intimidated to stay at home”.

Let us examine the empirical validation of this unfounded allegation by using the results from his ward. Chief O’Tega Emerhor is from Ward 3 (Evwreni) in Ughelli North Local Government Area. The total registered voters in that ward is 6,349. APC, his party, scored 6,033 votes; PDP scored 158 and DPP got 75, totaling 6,266 votes cast. This represents about 98 percent of registered voters. Does this show that voters were intimidated to stay at home?

Does this justify Chief Emerhor’s claim? Emerhor should tell Nigerians where he got the “big security details” around him before, during and after the elections. Please, those who live in glass houses should not throw stones! I want to also thank Emerhor for acknowledging that PDP has strong holds in Delta Central, but at the same time advice him to learn to respect his elders. To insult the Deputy Governor of Delta State who is his elder and senior on all spheres is the height of irresponsibility. All good and well meaning Nigerians should condemn this outdated and childish action of Emerhor.

Finally, we advice Emehor to stop heating up the political system. The law is clear, nobody can annul an election once concluded except the courts. He should channel his grievances to the court or tribunal which will soon be set up and we shall meet him and his party there.

To my brother, Ede Dafinone, we will advice to take a cue from his father who never took the Urhobos throughout his illustrious political life to the opposition.

Signed

Chief (Barr.) Peter Nwaoboshi
Chairman, PDP, Delta State