By Emmanuel Abi Couson
As Delta State goes to the polls tomorrow to elect Chairmanship and Councilorship candidates across the 25 ocal government areas in the state, the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) have endorsed all the Chairmanship candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
CUPP Chairman in the State, Chief Efe Tobor and spokesman, Prince Henry Eze disclosed the endorsement at a press conference in Asaba on Friday.
The CUPP boss said the coalition comprising 16 Political Parties including the PDP have been assessing the campaign trains of the different Political Parties presenting candidates for the July 13th, 2024 and have discovered that it is only the PDP chairmanship candidates that have campaign council structures in all the 25 local government areas.
“Over the years the CUPP in Delta State has developed a philosophy of always supporting and possibly endorsing the best candidates in all elections to ensure that the best candidates emerge and also to save costs. This approach also reduces post election litigations to the barest minimum.
“CUPP is encouraged by the fact that DSIEC has been holding regular consultative meetings, sensitizations and has been following the election guidelines. We expect DSIEC to match words with actions by ensuring early arrival of election materials and giving Deltans the much expected free, fair and credible elections.
“In view of the foregoing, the Political Partíes under the aegis of CUPP in Delta State have unanimously agreed to endorse the 25 local government PDP chairmanship candidates for the July 13, 2024 local government elections in the State for the following reasons:
“Our endorsement of the 25 local government chairmanship candidates of the PDP stems from the fact that it is only the PDP candidates that have been able to establish campaign councils in each of the local government areas of the State.
“This shows capacity and their state of preparedness for the elections and the CUPP has a philosophy of always supporting the best candidates for any given election.
“This endorsement also tallies with the CUPP policy of reducing election rancour to the barest minimum, reduce costs and also to discourage post election litigations which sometimes are very costly.
“For some time now Delta State has been enjoying robust peace, partly because of the excellent inter-party harmony that exists in the State and it is believed that this endorsement will further deepen the peaceful ambience in the State.”
The CUPP commended the Oborevwori’s administration for running an all-inclusive government and has shunned the all winners syndrome in politics, thereby making the Political Parties have liberty to endorse the right candidates of their choice without fear of reducing the independence of the parties.
“CUPP finds it impressive that PDP is the only Party in the state that has deliberately elected to have female vice -Chairmanship candidates in the state , thus showing examples to other Political parties the wisdom behind being gender friendly.
“Finally, we call on all political parties in Delta State, all members of CUPP across the State, stakeholders and all well meaning Deltans to vote massively for all the 25 PDP chairmanship candidates in Saturday July 13th 2024 LG election for the interest of peace, harmony and progress.
“In taking this decision, we wish to acknowledge the fortuitous roles played by the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Inter Party Relations, Chief Efe Tobor Josiah in ensuring a very conducive political climate for Political parties to ventilate their programmes.
“We call on the security agencies in the state, the Police, DSS, Federal Road Safety Commission and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to show high degree of professionalism in the exercise of their duties in order to sustain the prevalent peace we enjoy in Delta State.
“We look forward to a very robust local government elections on our journey towards building a virile democracy, justice and rule of law in our State.”
