Tejiri Ebikeme
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate for Delta South Senatorial District, Barrister Marvel Akpoghene .O. Odiedi has withdrawn from the race for former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. J.F.K. Omatsone.
Speaking to newsmen in Warri, the lawyer said he decided to quit the race as a result of health challenges. He urged the people of the district to elect the former Speaker as a Senator describing him as the best man for the job.
former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. J.F.K. Omatsone while speaking to newsmen in Warri.
Informing the National Chairman of SDP of his withdrawal from the race in a letter dated December 29, 2014, Barrister Marvel Odiedi wrote thus “I was duly nominated November 29, 2014 as the Party’s Delta South Senatorial candidate of Delta State at the Party’s State Primary Election conducted at the Party’s State Secretariat, Asaba.”
“Regrettably, I am having some health challenges and as such, I wish to withdraw as the Party’s Delta South Senatorial Candidate on health ground,” he further wrote.
In an affidavit also dated December 29, 2014 as to withdrawal as a Senatorial candidate of SDP, the lawyer declared that; “I was duly nominated on the 29th day of November, 2014 as the Social Democratic Party Delta South Senatorial Candidate for the 2015 general elections at the Party’s State Primary Election, but I have some health challenges and as such I hereby withdraw as the Party’s Delta South Senatorial candidate for Rt. Hon. J.F.K. Omatsone.”
“That Rt. Hon. J.F.K. Omatsone has my consent to substitute me and be the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate for Delta South Senatorial Candidate for the 2015 general elections,” he said.
According to him, “That I depose to this affidavit for the information of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the general public.”
He told newsmen that he would work for the victory of the former Speaker, saying he is tested and trusted.
On his part, Rt. Hon. J.F.K. Omatsone, while speaking to newsmen described the lawyer as a good sportsmanship that should be emulated by all politicians.
He said his chances of winning the Delta South Senatorial race were bright, imploring the people of the district to vote for him massively with a promise to attract development to the district if elected.
He said “I was called upon by the people of the district to run and I cannot afford to fail them. They said it is the turn of the Itsekiris to represent the district and they picked on me. I will deliver dividends of democracy to the people of the district who called upon me to contest. I will arrest rural-urban drift if elected. My chances at the polls are very bright. I am the most competent person at the moment to go to the Senate and I am pleading with my people to rally round me in the March 28, 2015 polls.”
