Although he claimed that his action was aimed at further entrenching peaceful electoral process and transition in Delta state, political analysts had observed that Governor Uduaghan had been under intense political pressure to quit his ambition or risk losing his major interest of successfully installing his successor.
But Governor Uduaghan disclosed that he was not forced to withdraw from the senatorial race, reiterating, “nobody has forced me to step down, I owe it to Deltans for the peace and security of the state.”
This development has therefore put paid to expected tangle between Uduaghan and incumbent Senator James Manager who had insisted he would return to the Senate by all means.
Addressing a press conference in Asaba to announce his withdrawal, Governor Uduaghan observed that his withdrawal from the Senatorial was in the general interest of the state and democracy at large.
According to him, “the first agenda of my administration is peace and security and I will not do anything that will threaten the peace, I am determined to bequeath a peaceful state, the worst thing that can happen is to be part of the security challenges. I have offered to step down from the Senatorial race to ensure that the tension is reduced and in the overall interest of peace and security in the state.”
“I bought my forms, I have been screened and cleared for the Senatorial seat and as the person in charge at the state level, I have always appealed that elections must not be a do or die affair, unfortunately, there have been a lot of political and ethnic tension that is threatening the peace and security of the state, which has been noticed even at the national level,” the Governor said.
He emphasized, “anybody who believes he must get to a position with the loss of life is inhuman, I will not want to have anything that will lead to the loss of life, now that I am out of the race, it gives me more leverage to manage the transition and more time to be involved in national issues.”
While commending his teaming supporters for their unflinching loyalty and support, Dr Uduaghan stated that the interest of the state supersedes personal interest.
