By Francis Sadhere
Barely few weeks to the February general elections, the Delta State House of Assembly candidate representing Ughelli North Constituency 11, under the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Hon. Rufus Edoja Akppdiete, has called on his teeming supporters to collect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) saying that it is their power to make the changes they are clamoring for.
Hon. Rufus stated this yesterday at Ughelli during his official campaign flag-off held at Johnson Numa Plaza, Ughelli, Delta State.
Hon. Akpodiete, a former Delta State House of Assembly member, said he was going back to the House because he believed he has the experience to still bring more development to his constituency.
Hon. Edoja who was handed the party’s flag by the state party chairman, Mr. Idawene Oke promised his teeming supporters who came to support him that he will not fail them when he gets back to the House.
He said he is sure that he is going to come out victorious at the February 28 elections, adding that he was not tired as rumoured by his political detractors who were bent on disenfranchising him.
He said the youths are the bedrock of development in any country, stressing that he is going to involve the youths by creating enabling laws that will ensure that are empowered. He said he was sad that after graduating from school, youths resort to driving motor cycles, popularly called Okada, noting that no youths should be allowed to go through such hardship after graduating.
While saying that he is going to ensure that his constituency gets what rightly belonged to them, Hon. Akpodiete emphasized that the wish of his people will be his driving force if he wins the election.
The former PDP member thanked God for giving him another platform for contesting for a second term in the Delta State house of Assembly after he was fustrated out of PDP . He said PDP tried to frustrate him out of politics because he was telling them truth. He noted that no man can stop him from representing his people.
He assured his supporters that came out to support him that he is a candidate to beat in the election, stressing that the people were looking for a candidate that will not only win elections, but a candidate that can also deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.
He said SDP is well prepared to win elections in the state because, God has always been with them. He said he wants to attract more dividends of the democracy that will contribute to the betterment of the life of his people.
He described the turn-out of his supporters as massive saying that with the massive turn-out of his supporters, he was sure of victory.
Hon. Akpodiete said SDP was determined to release the people from the shackles of ignorance and oppression perpetuated by the ruling party so that they can progress forward and develop. He urged the people of Delta State to join the SDP because it is a party with a lot of promises.
Speaking earlier at the rally, the State Party Chairman, Hon. Oke Idawene assured the party’s supporters that Hon. Akpodiete was going to bring more development to the constituency, adding that Hon. Akpodiete’s humility was a good sign that he will do what he has being doing for the constituency again if given the chance.
Speaking to journalists, he said SDP has credible candidates in the upcoming election all over the country, stressing that the party was the only true alternative that can give PDP a run for its money. He added it will be a smooth sail for all SDP candidates in Delta State.
He said: “I am presenting seven candidates for the state house of Assembly and I am going to get seven out of seven. We have all the necessary things in place and we are going to take the state by storm to deliver our entire candidate. So come February 28, we are going shake the state. As I am speaking with you now I have two councilors in the state. So if we can have councillorship in the state that shows you that we are very strong in the state and we have the structures in place.”
