The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders at Ezebiri in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta has urged Gov Ifeanyi Okowa to resist moves to substitute candidates who emerged victorious at the Dec. 21 primaries.

Mr Emmanuel Korokoro, a PDP stalwart in Bomadi made the plea while speaking with newsmen on Wednesday in Warri.

Korokoro who spoke on behalf of the stakeholders said that upholding the results from the primaries conducted across the state would foster internal democracy in the party.

He urged governor Okowa to call some party leaders from Bomadi to refrain from imposing candidates who did not participate in the party’s primaries by submitting their names as candidates in the forthcoming local government elections.

Korokoro said that there were moved by influential members of the party from the area to impose their favoured candidate who did not bother to participate in the party primaries.

The party stalwart urged Okowa to call the party leaders allegedly interfering with the process to order and ensure that only the candidates who participated in the primaries would fly the party’s flag at the polls.

He noted that such would strengthen party unity and victory in the general elections.

“We applaud the leadership of Gov. Okowa and appeal to his sense of sound judgement and ideals of our party to check the overbearing influence of leaders who want to foist their cronies in breach of party ideals of internal democracy.

“We have it in good authority that there are plans to substitute the name of the candidate who emerged from the primaries from Bomadi Ward 19.

“In the person of Mr Ramsey Nuware who beat his rival Mr Fezi College and others in the contest.

“We urge the party to uphold the results declared before party delegates at the primaries conducted by Madam Fere-Ere Gbe who served as returning officer.

“Doing so will be in the overall interest of the party and brighten its chances in the local government election.” he said.

It will be recalled that PDP in Delta held primaries across the wards in Delta on Dec 21 to elect candidates for councillorship and chairmanship positions in the forthcoming council polls slated for March 6.

Source: NAN