August 21, (THEWILL) – Amid uncertainty over the outcome of the Appeal Court judgement in the suit challenging the eligibility of the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, a group of party faithful, who believe in upholding the rule of law, have identified with the candidacy of Chief David Edevbie, in line with an Abuja High Court ruling.
Making their position known under the auspices of ‘Delta Unity Group’, the PDP members made up of political heavyweights, including past and present federal and state lawmakers, commissioners, local government chairmen, women and youth leaders, as well as notable political aides, from various ethnic groups across the three Senatorial districts said that “without prejudice to the pending appeal over the candidacy of Delta PDP for the 2023 Governorship election,” they stand firmly with Olorogun David Edevbie as the lawful and authentic candidate of the party, in line with the unambiguous declarative judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja, and commits to ensuring the total victory of the PDP in the 2023 Governorship election.
The Delta Unity Group said it took the decision to back Edevbie as an affirmation of its commitment to equity, justice and fairness.
The group declared its support to the joint ticket of the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, as well as other elective positions being contested by PDP candidates in next year’s elections in the state.
Articulating its agenda in a communiqué issued at the end of its maiden meeting held on Wednesday at the residence of Hon. Osai Osai in Kwale, the group said it had decided to back Chief David Edevbie’s candidacy as the part’s governorship flagbearer, based on a subsisting court judgement recognising him as such.
The communique read in part: “Delta Unity Group is a convergence of long standing, prominent and emergent leaders of the Delta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) drawn from all Senatorial Districts, Federal Constituencies, State Constituencies and Local Government Areas across Delta State.
“The objective and focus of Delta Unity Group is primarily to promote unity and brotherliness within the party and ensure effective and cohesive grassroots mobilisation for the success of all candidates of the party at all levels.
“After elaborate deliberations at its meeting of Wednesday, August 17, 2022 at Kwale, the Delta Unity Group resolved as follows:
“That Delta Unity Group fully supports H.E .Abubakar Atiku/H.E. Ifeanyi Okowa “Rescue Nigeria” Presidential ticket of the PDP and resolves to work assiduously across Delta State, the Niger Delta and South South Zone to ensure the victory of the party in the 2023 Presidential Election.
“That leaders of Delta PDP at all levels should show greater commitment to the unity of the party and put its interest as paramount in all their interactions and activities. The Delta Unity Group also advised the State Chairman of the Party to always play the role of an impartial arbiter in the handling of all emerging disputes.
“That without prejudice to the pending appeal over the candidacy of Delta PDP for the 2023 Governorship election, the Delta Unity Group stands firmly with Olorogun David Edevbie as the lawful and authentic candidate of the party in line with the unambiguous declarative judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja, and commits to ensuring the total victory of the PDP in the 2023 Governorship election.
“That it urges all Deltans to embrace the Modernisation Agenda of Olorogun David Edevbie as the only sure manifesto for the sustainable socioeconomic development and growth of the state and the prosperity of all Deltans.
“That it encourages the National leadership of the party to show characteristic example in abiding by the Rule of Law and to promptly forward the nomination of Olorogun David Edevbie to the Independent National Electoral Commission in line with the subsisting order of court, unless and until there is a contrary order.
“Delta Unity Group calls on all party members to restrain themselves from making negative and provocative statements about the Party’s candidates at all levels in order to ensure unity, peace and sanctity within the Delta PDP family, as we work towards the overwhelming victory of all our candidates in 2023”.
Earlier in his opening remark, the Protem Chairman of the body, Rt. Hon. Peter Onwusanya, noted that it’s now the responsibility of the party leaders and faithfuls to show direction on how things should be done appropriately, in order to ensure victory for the party in the forthcoming general elections.
He said, “I consider it a great privilege and an act of divine providence that very distinguished political leaders across our dear Delta State are gathered here today to chart a way forward for our Party, the PDP and Delta State.
“As you maybe all aware, the Delta Unity Group is an all inclusive and unifying force of all ethnic groups, political interest groups and component parts of Delta state, for the actualisation of a Peaceful, United, Modernised, Industrialised and Progressive Delta state.
“This is aside promoting mutual understanding and unity amongst ethnic groups and the three senatorial districts of Delta State.
“Specifically, the Delta Unity Group is geared to promote and protect the Structure, Image, Ideals, Ideology, Interest and integrity of our great party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) at all levels.
“We are all witnesses to the difficulties our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party, is going through at this period of transition. As long-standing party faithfuls and leaders at various levels, we cannot stand and fold our hands to see the mother-goat suffering the pain of labour while tied to a stake.
“The birth of Delta Unity Group has therefore been necessitated by the need to support our party and our state to cross the bridge to usher our people into a glorious destiny driven by the Modernisation Agenda of our dear brother and leader, Olorogun David Edevbie, the PDP candidate for the elections next year.
“Added to that is the privilege of having our dear Governor, His Excellency, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, as the Running Mate to His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar in the forthcoming Presidential Election”.
“While these two expectations are significant in the Destiny, Development and Growth of our dear state, they are therefore non-negotiable, we recognise that nothing good comes easy and that our actions or inactions may make or mar our hopes as a people.
“It therefore behoves on us as party leaders and faithful to come together to provide direction and strong support in promoting the unity of members and to galvanise greater strength towards mobilising not just members but the electorate towards diligently discharging the great tasks ahead to ensure the success of our party and victory of all our candidates at all levels.
“This call is in realisation that while our party the PDP is strong, the turf can be slippery and it requires all joining together and all hands on deck to navigate and steer our ship unto success.
“It is a call to higher duty which requires every sense of Sobriety, Justice, Equity, Commitment, Love for the party and the spirit of give and take.
I therefore welcome you once again to this meeting and wish us fruitful deliberations”, he concluded.
Sources who spoke to THEWILL said the Delta Unity Group is a new body that was set up to counter the influence of Delta Political Vanguard and Delta Mandate, two prominent groups promoted and backed by Governor Okowa and his caucus.
