Edo Guber: We won’t allow anyone to snatch, grab ,steal our votes, PDP tells Tinubu

By Tunde Opalana

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has advised President Bola Tinubu to forget the idea of hijacking Edo State for his All Progressives Congress (APC) during the September governorship election in the state.

Acting National Chairman of PDP, Ambassador Ilya Damagum sounded the note of warning at the party secretariat, Abuja on Thursday while inaugurating the national campaign councils of the party for the com ng Edo and Ondo governorship elections.

Alerting party members of the level of preparedness of PDP for both elections, he particularly warned that the party will not allow itself to be robbed of victory at the poll or post – election .

Apparently reacting to an alleged statement credited to President Tinubu concerning the Edo election said “I’ve just been watching the remarks especially on Ondo and Edo, where the President said he’s taking Edo for his party

“Like we’ve always said, he has tried it before, and we have a slogan that ‘Edo no be Lagos’. So I want to use this opportunity to stress that we are in a democratic dispensation and there are rules that have to be adhered to.

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“We will not sit down and allow anybody to snatch , grab, and steal. We will be battle ready for any thief that rares his head to steal our fortune.

Damagum said the party will leverage on the stelar performance of Governor Godwin Obaseki to win Edo election saying “we have done so well in Edo State. We thank the Governor. We are very proud of him. And our records in that state speak volumes.

“And it is part of our pride. And it will be one we will use to continue giving them that dividend that they have enjoyed during the tenure of Godwin Obaseki.

“So Edo is there for us because we have done very well and we will take it back to the PDP. Edo State has always been PDP. We know what happened during when the other guy that held sway, even though at that time Governor Obaseki, before he saw the light.

“But to the glory of God, when the light shone on him, he was back and he was doing absolutely very well and we are proud of him.

“So to those that think they will take Edo, I want to tell them that it is going to be very difficult for them because we are in a democratic dispensation.

“We will not make the mistake we have made before. And this time around there is no announcement of result in the middle of the night.

“So I want to enjoin you, people that are going to campaign in Edo, already the Governor has laid down a very good foundation for you and we know you will make us proud.”

The acting National Chairman though expressed concern over Ondo PDP which he said have had it so bad over the years, he said members in the state
are now more committed, more resolved.

He charged members of the cosign council for Ondo to brace up for the task of true reconciliation of members and rigorous campaign

” So for those going to Ondo, you have a very daunting task before you.

“You have to open your eyes, shine your eyes. They will come with all sorts of antics, but this time around we are ready for them.

“We will match them. And I’m encouraging you to be fearless. Already they are campaigning for us. Hunger alone in this country is enough to change your sight.

“So to the people of Ondo, this is another opportunity for you to change things and make things work for you,” he said.

Damagun promised that the leadership of the party will give the campaign council all the support .

The 148 members Edo campaign council has the governor of Adamawa State, Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Fintiri as chairman with governors Sheriff Oborevwori and Kefas Agbu of Delta and Taraba states respectively white Ondo has the Osun governor, Ademola Adeleke, Plateau governor, Caleb Muftwang and Zamfara governor, Dauda Lawal.

On behalf of the two councils, Governor Fintiri promised not to leave anything to chance .

He also praised Governor Obaseki whose performance, he said, will assist the PDP in winning the election while he urger members in Ondo state to be ready to sacrifice personal ego in the overall interest of the party.