Rivers LG Poll: My Victory is for Everyone,  Chairmanship Flag Bearer, Awortu

Awortu made the declaration on Sunday at Ngo  town, Headquarters of Andoni lyocal Government Area of Rivers shortly after he was returned as the flag bearer for the PDP.

“I want to thank my people, the Andoni chapter of this great party starting from the party’s leadership who considered me worthy to contest the forthcoming local government council election on the platform of our great party PDP.

“I want to  specially commend the delegates who unanimously agreeed on sending  me forth to the election.

“I urge you to stand with me all through this period so that by the end of the electioneering process, we would  successfully deliver the party at the poll and the victory  will be victory for everyone.

“I want to also assure party members, that the party is for us all and not for a selected  few,  the party is one and it will continue to remain indivisible as we shall  strive towards deepening unity in the party,” Erastus said.

Meanwhile, Mr Sunny  Ejeku,  Returning Officer for party primary  said  that 257 delegates were accredited while 237 of the accredited number of delegates voted for Mr Erastus Awortu.

“So by the powers confired on me by the state Chairman of the Peoples  Democratic Party  (PDP) I hereby, announce and declare Mr Erastus  Awortu as being elected as Chairmanship Candidate of the PDP by the people of Andoni local government area.

“You are hereby, returned to  fly the flag of the PDP as the chairmanship candidate in the forthcoming local government council election slated for April  17 in the state,” he said.

In his reaction, Mr Ikunyi-Owaji Ibani, Speaker Rivers State House of Assembly and lawmaker representing Andoni state constituency noted that power belonged to God as he described the choice of  Mr Erastus Awortu as the handwork of God.

“I want to commend the disposition of party stalwarts, since we came in here to officially  present the candidate who will fly our flag in the forthcoming local government council election in the state.

“Today, our primary  is a proof of the fact that  PDP is a party that truly  understood what democracy is all about.

“Our internal democracy is second  to none, Andoni is one of the local governments in the state that had consistently upheld the rules of internal democracy for 22 years now.

“At at every point we do this, we are always  sure that  the candidate emerges winner, today,  I want to assure  Awortu of my support,” he said.

NAN reports that the Council Chairman Mr Paul Lawrence was also present during the exercise.

Ibani while responding to the outcome of the  election thanked the chairman for cooperating with the party on its decision to project Awortu.

“Let me also thank the executive chairman of the  council, Mr Paul Lawrence, you have indeed  created  an enabling environment  for us to conduct this party primary.

“You know that we all are loyalists to the party, you too by your presence today have shown that you are loyal.

 “Though you showed interest for a second tenure but when you got to know  about the  party’s decision you Peacfully stepped down for Awortu and I commend your spirit of sportmanship,” Ibani said.

(NAN)