Delta PDP Inaugurates 71-Man Campaign Council
… As Uduaghan Seeks Early Preparation
SAN FRANCISCO, December 16, (THEWILL) – Ahead of the 2015 general elections, the Delta State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has inaugurated a 71-man Campaign Council that would give policy directions and ensure victory for the party in the 2015 polls.
Chairman of the party in the state, Chief Edwin Uzor, who doubles as chairman of the council, inaugurated members of the council who are mainly eminent and tested politicians. The State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and his deputy, Prof. Amos Utuama, are also part of the committee.
Speaking at the occasion which took place at Government House, Asaba on Monday night, Governor Uduaghan said it was important for the party to start early preparations for the 2015 general elections, noting that elections come with a lot of challenges.
According to him, “Delta State is a PDP state, there is no doubt about that, but we must be united, we must put our house in order to enable us win in the general elections, we must put everything that happened during the primary elections behind us.
“We must ensure that the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan wins in Delta State, we must ensure Dr. Okowa wins because we must have PDP President and PDP Governor and all our candidates must win in the elections.”
He thanked aspirants who contested in the primaries of the PDP for their steadfastness, noting that “so far, nobody has moved out of our party as a result of the primaries, we are moving forward as a political party and we must remain united.”
While reminding party faithful that the primaries were over, Uduaghan said: “We must put everything behind us – all rumours, ill feelings, gossips and the time to review the primaries has passed. The time we are now is to strategise on how to win the elections, we must do everything possible to get it right.”
He call for support for those who have emerged as candidates to enable them win the main elections as they are now the party candidates.
Uduaghan explained that the Campaign Council is the apex policy making body of all the campaigns for the 2015 elections, adding that a campaign team would still be constituted.
“The Campaign Council is the policy making body of all our campaigns in the 2015 elections,” Uduaghan said, urging all those who lost in the primaries of the PDP to sheath their swords, put away their differences and work for the interest of the party.
In his remarks, the PDP gubernatorial candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa commended Uduaghan for the reconciliatory role he has been playing after the primaries, a move he said has helped to strengthen the party in the state, douse tension and check factionalisation of the party.
Okowa commended his co-governorship aspirants for putting the interest of the state and the party first before self, saying “All the aspirants have called to congratulate me, I must appreciate you for your efforts.”
He appealed for the cooperation and support of all party faithful in moving the party forward, noting “that there are great challenges ahead, this is the first time we are going to the polls nationally with a strong opposition but with hard work, PDP will surmount the challenges and be successful.”
He expressed optimism that “The PDP in Delta State has always done so well and I believe that we will do better in the elections that are coming up in 2015.”
Okowa begged for forgiveness from those he might have hurt in the course of the campaigns and urged anyone with useful advice to always bring such forward so that the party could achieve success in the 2015 general elections.
While inaugurating the Council, Uzor appealed to members of the Party who contested in the primaries to continuously work for the interest of the party, assuring that the party will always place emphasis on the welfare of the people.