An All Progressives Congress, APC, senatorial aspirant in Delta State, Chief Michael Johnny on Wednesday told the immediate past governor of the state, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan that he (Johnny) is not in the race for the Delta South senatorial seat to step down for the former governor, who just defected to the APC.
Chief Johnny welcomed Uduaghan into the party, in a statement on Wednesday.
The APC chieftain, who had been the only Delta South senatorial aspirant under the platform of the APC, was reacting to speculations that he may step down for the former governor.
Chief Johnny, who is an indigene of Okenrenkoko in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, said, “It is a good thing that Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has joined the APC but I am not aware yet if he is contesting for Senate in APC.
“I accepted to contest for the Senate because all ethnic tribes in Delta South want me to represent them in 2019.
“Very importantly, I am not in the race to step down for Dr. Uduaghan or anybody,” he said, stressing that,”I am the only person that can deliver for APC at the general election because I know I will clinch the ticket. ”
Meanwhile, Ijaw leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Delta State have ruled out an automatic ticket of the party for ex-Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.
In a statement signed by an APC Chieftain,Chris Porbeni, the Ijaw leaders welcomed Uduaghan into the party, saying however that they expect Uduaghan to face other aspirants in the primary elections of the party.
The Ijaw APC leaders stressed that, “The APC is determined to unseat the PDP from Government House come 2019.”
They continued, “We are very ready to receive and welcome our former Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan to APC. But we want to correct the wrong impression that the Governor has been given an automatic ticket of APC for Delta South Senatorial district. This is not true. Uduaghan is qualified but will go through the party primaries like every other senatorial aspirants”.
The Ijaw APC leaders reiterated their confidence in the state leadership of the party led by Prophet Jones Erue and the National Working Committee led by Adams Oshiomohle to deepen internal democracy in Delta State APC by allowing free and fair primaries where the people would elect their choice candidates.
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