“We totally condemn Mr. President’s moves and schemes and say that they are mean and uncomplimentary….. We warn that he should not do anything that would be seen as his interference in the process that will make Saturday’s election not to be free, fair and credible.”

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state, PDP leaders, stakeholders and political appointees are in a last minute strategy meeting in Asaba, ahead of Saturday, March 9, 2019 Governorship and State House of Assembly elections.

Journalists were barred from covering the meeting which is coming on the heels of speculations that the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections may not be a smooth sailing for candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

This is happening just as President Muhammadu Buhari visits Warri today, Monday, March 4, 2019, the second visit in about two months.

The State Publicity Secretary of the PDP in Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi M. Osuoza in a statement made available to Blank NEWS Online, said “it is not a surprise that tongues are wagging within the circles of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Delta State that the trip is in bad taste, as the party supporters and Deltans in general are wondering why the president has always limited his visits to a microscopic Warri and ignoring the larger areas of the State.

“However, while we of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Delta State will not get involved in the internal belligerent matters of a party that lives in factional disharmony, we urge the President not to get involved in sinister contrivances by working to use his office as President, to scheme and manipulate the electoral process.

“We say this because of the March 9, 2019 Governorship and State House of Assembly elections, as we have it on good authority that Buhari’s trip is not altruistic, and has nothing to do with the good and progress of Delta State.

“Already, the entire Delta State is abuzz with claims and insinuations and it is being openly said that the President and indeed the whole gamut of well known election manipulators and hatchet men in the national APC leadership, are visiting Delta State ostensibly to perfect an APC rigging plan and subvert the electoral process and the ultimate democratic decisions of Deltans who have sworn to return Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for a well deserved second term and vote for all the PDP candidates in the March 9, 2019 State Assembly elections.

“It is indeed a thing of shame that President Buhari will ignore other very important and urgent State matters to come to Warri to be at the head of a despicable scheme to manipulate and swing votes in favour of the unpopular APC and its candidates.

“We condemn the president’s insensitivity to the sensibilities of the people of Delta State who have taken PDP as their party. We also decry the shameful, slimy drive of Buhari and his detestable mission to use the power of State to secretly get the various agencies of the Federal Government, namely, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the police, the military and other security agencies to intimidate and harass PDP supporters, voters and subvert their democratic will and foist on the State an unpopular APC and its candidate.

“While the foregoing is to seriously inform and educate the general public of Delta State, Nigerians and the world at large of the President’s tricks and treacherous game plan being schemed to thwart and by subterfuge subvert the already known will of Deltans who are poised to vote for Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and other PDP candidates, we warn that President Muhammadu Buhari must be held responsible for any complications that may develop from his inglorious interference in the voting process in Delta State.

“Let the president be reassured that the people of Delta State are resolute in their decision to vote for the PDP candidates and keeping the party in Delta State. Certainly, he should understand that no amount of intimidation and other ill-conceived and devious ideas to thwart the peoples’ will shall thrive because Delta State is PDP and PDP is Delta State.

“We totally condemn Mr. President’s moves and schemes and say that they are mean and uncomplimentary. It is curious why the President has chosen to visit Warri at a time like this in the heat of preparations for, and almost on the eve of the State elections in which his party, and the APC is the major opposition party. We warn that he should not do anything that would be seen as his interference in the process that will make Saturday’s election not to be free, fair and credible.

“On this note, we call on PDP faithful, leaders, supporters and faithful not to be intimidated, but should come out in large numbers to vote the PDP, ensure that their votes count.

“We urge them to remain steadfast in standing by and for Governor Okowa’s re-election and all the PDP candidates.”