By Abai Francis

Delta South Senatorial aspirants of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Michael Johnny, Temisan Omatseye, Oyewale Evans, and Air-Vice Marshall Okorodudu, have said they will not accept any imposition of candidate, no matter how mighty.

The aspirants made this known during a press conference they held yesterday to brief the press and supporters alike at the accreditation venue in Oleh, headquarters of Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, due to the non-commencement of the primaries as scheduled.

According to Marshall Okorodudu, “We have been here since 8 O’Clock in the morning. Only few minutes ago, we started hearing that the primaries have been postponed. In fact, we are hearing (we suspect it is fake news) that out of the five senatorial aspirants in our district, only one aspirant in the name of Emmanuel Uduaghan has been allowed to contest the primaries.

“We believe the APC will not descend so low; we believe the national and state chairmen of the party will not allow travesty. Personally, I do believe that the president of the federation, Muhammadu Buhari, who is a man of principle and integrity, will not allow the charade which is about to take place.”

Another aspirant, Michael Johnny, while venting his displeasure at the situation, advised the party’s chairmen to do the needful to avoid causing unnecessary tension that could lead to conflicts. 

“Let me advice the national chairman and the national working committee that this is Delta state for Christ sake, and this is Delta South Senatorial district, and you know anything that happens in Delta South Senatorial district has to do with the country. It is a very volatile area.

“Please, the APC is still a new born party. Trying to deprive some aspirants to contest freely, I am the youngest aspirant in Nigeria and the same time I want to be the youngest senator in Nigeria. I will not and never allow in history, the national chairman to jeopardise my future. I can go to any extra length, he knows. So I don’t think anything contrary is happening. I believe it is just normal delay.”

Chief Johnny therefore called for his supporters to protect their rights, saying, “My advise to my supporters is to stand and protect their victory and to resist any irregularities.”

On his part, Temisan Omatseye, said: “The APC belongs to us, nobody will steal our party. We did not steal the money we used to purchase our forms. We worked hard for the money. And we came here to represent our people, not because of our own personal interest but out of the interest of our people. And four of us here have agreed that whosoever wins this primary, we will give a handshake and walk away. 

“So, therefore, there is no need for anybody to be afraid. If you’re popular, come and test your popularity in the field. Come out here and let us go out there and carry out voting, in the process that is free and fair, not to go behind and do some ramshackle system that will not work.”

For Oyewale Evans, another of the senatorial aspirant, “What is going on has serious implications for the general elections. We have worked hard to stabilize the APC here. At a time nobody wants to be our candidate. Now we have worked hard to develop this party; it is now the pride that is being sought after. We cannot abandon this ship.

“No one person is more important than all others. If anybody feels he has popularity, it is not tested in national office; it is tested on the ground here. The people of Delta South Senatorial district will not accept any imposition of anybody no matter how mighty. We will stand by the people.”

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