The Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the September 19 governorship election in Edo state is free, fair and credible.
The governors under the aegis of the PDP Governors Forum also called on the security agencies and other stakeholders to maintain neutrality and safeguard the sanctity of the ballot.
In a statement on Friday by its Director-General, Cyril Maduabum, the PDP Governors Forum also urged Nigerians and civil society organisations to be vigilant by ensuring that all votes are counted and are made to count.
The governors commended what they described as the leadership skills of Governor Godwin Obaseki, saying that his emergence as the PDP flag bearer in the election was a testament to his leadership qualities.
The Forum enjoined the governor to continue to deploy his management skill to unite the Edo chapter of the PDP and to face the task of enthroning good governance and accountability for the good of the people.
The governors further advised him to be magnanimous enough to embrace the three other aspirants that stepped down for him during the primary election and to see them as partners in progress.
The Forum also thanked the leadership of the PDP for being able to amicably resolve the conflict that ensued among the aspirants in the struggle for the party’s ticket.
The statement further said, “The PDP Governors’ Forum under the leadership of His Excellency, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, congratulates Governor Godwin Obaseki on his emergence as the flag bearer of the PDP in the Edo State governorship election, scheduled for September 2020.
“His victory in the primaries is an affirmation of the confidence the people of Edo State has in his
ability to steer the ship of the state positively for another four years and on the record of his sterling
performance in office in his current term.
“This victory should be a humbling one as it has been achieved in the backdrop of a grave injustice done to him by his former political party, the APC, and a demonstration of the role of God in the affairs of men. It is indeed a call to continue faithfully serving the good people of Edo State.
“This victory is even more remarkable as His Excellency joined the PDP just a few weeks ago, and it is a testament to his leadership skills that he successfully got all other aspirants who started the race before him in PDP to step down for him and join him in salvaging the state without rancour or bitterness.
“We hope that he will continue to deploy this management skill in uniting the PDP and Edo people in the great task of enthroning good governance and accountability in Edo State.
“He should ensure that there are truly no victors or vanquished in this struggle for the soul of Edo state.
This sets the stage for a resounding victory for PDP in September.
“Indeed, the PDP has demonstrated with this outing in Edo State, that it has learnt the lessons of the past and is poised to elevate the PDP platform as one that can offer stable and focused leadership for Nigeria.
“The huge task of winning the Edo State election has just begun, and we counsel our flag bearer to run an issue based campaign, anchored on his highly acclaimed record of superlative performance in office so far”.
