Delta council polls: I stand firm with PDP – Prof Oyovbaire

Renowned elder statesman and former Minister of Information, Prof. Sam Oyovbaire has reinstated his resolute commitment to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Prof. Oyovbaire, a member of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, reinstated his stand with the party at his country home of Opujara in Okpe local government area, Delta State.

Oyovbaire said: “I have been in PDP and I remain in the party. I am not one to run from party to party. I stand firm with PDP and encourage everyone to remain with the party”.

The former Minister of Information said this on Thursday as the PDP in Okpe commenced its campaigns in Opuraja ahead of council elections set to hold in Delta in July.

Speaking during the campaign tour, Chairman of Okpe PDP, Hon Efe Uko explained why the party’s campaigns in Okpe local government area have to commence in the country home of Prof Oyovbaire.

“We are happy to be here at the ward of our leader, Prof Sam Oyovbaire, the Ọgbirhorho Okpẹ kingdom.

“The campaigns did not start in Opuraja in error. When we sat down to make the decision, we decided that the campaigns should start here from the home of our leader.

“Prof Sam Oyovbaire, being a member of the PDP Board of Trustees, is a ranking member of the party and it is only the right thing to do to begin the campaigns here,” Uko said.

In his remarks, the PDP campaign coordinator in Okpe, Hon Joseph Otirhue re-emphasized on the reason why the party is presenting Hon Isaiah Esiovwa as chairman for second tenure.

While thanking leaders of the wards visited for the warm reception, Hon Otirhue said: “We sat down to reason how we are going to do it and who we are going to send.

“We were faced with the challenge that no one has ever returned for second term in Okpe local government council. No second tenure.

“But when we consider the fact that other local governments do second term, we told ourselves that this is doable. We looked around and decided that Hon Isaiah Esiovwa is presentable for second term.

Speaking further, Otirhue said: “When there is a guaranteed second term, the person is more likely to work better than when it is only one term.

“So, leaders of the party have to ratify Hon Isaiah Esiovwa for second term with Pastor Mrs Mary Otikiri as running mate. So, we succeeded in breaking the jinx with Hon Esiovwa”.

Highlight of the campaign tour was the presentation of PDP flags to the councillorship standard bearers of the party for the wards visited.

The flag bearers unveiled during the campaign tour are the PDP councillorship candidates for Opuraja Ward 16, Judith Omovigho Johnson. Others are those for Adeje Ward 15, Felix Ikoyo; Evwriyen Ward 7, David Onoberevu and Adagbrasa-Ugolo Ward 8, Kenneth Awehtuya.

According to the timetable earlier released by Okpe PDP, the campaign tour will be held across the remaining wards of the local government area on Saturday and Monday when more councillorship candidates would be unveiled.