BEVERLY HILLS, December 05, (THEWILL) – Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, Friday evening in a press conference announced his formal withdrawal from the Delta South Senatorial race, confirming THEWILL’s previous exclusive report that he had bowed out of the contest.
The Governor, who had been locked in a heated contest with the incumbent senator representing the district, Senator James Manager, who is seeking a fourth term at the Senate, cited the need for a “peaceful electoral process and transition” as his reason for stepping down his bid, adding that it was also in the “general interest of the state and democracy at large.”
According to him, “the first agenda of my administration is peace and security and I will not do anything that will threaten the peace, I am determined to bequeath a peaceful state, the worst thing that can happen is to be part of the security challenges. I have offered to step down from the Senatorial race to ensure that the tension is reduced and in the overall interest of peace and security in the state.”
“I bought my forms, I have been screened and cleared for the Senatorial seat and as the person in charge at the state level, I have always appealed that elections must not be a do or die affair, unfortunately, there have been a lot of political and ethnic tension that is threatening the peace and security of the state, which has been noticed even at the national level,” the Governor said.
He emphasized, “anybody who believes he must get to a position with the loss of life is inhuman, I will not want to have anything that will lead to the loss of life, now that I am out of the race, it gives me more leverage to manage the transition and more time to be involved in national issues.”
While commending his teaming supporters for their unflinching loyalty and support, Dr Uduaghan stated that the interest of the state supersedes personal interest.
Fielding questions from journalists, Governor Uduaghan disclosed that he was not forced to withdraw from the senatorial race, reiterating, “nobody has forced me to step down, I owe it to Deltans for the peace and security of the state.”
THEWILL had previously reported Uduaghan’s withdrawal citing sources familiar with the development.
Uduaghan, the sources said, met with President Goodluck Jonathan, National Party Chairman, Dr Adamu Mu’azu and Senator Manager, Friday afternoon.
THEWILL had also exclusively reported that Senator Manager, an Ijaw like President Jonathan, has been positioned to become the majority leader of the next Senate, if the ruling PDP remains the majority party, the sources said.
According to our sources, the Presidency is working on the theory that current Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba (Cross River Central) will not be re-elected.
