The Pan Niger Delta Forum says the Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi’s endorsement remains “sacrosanct.”

PANDEF’s spokesman Ken Robinson said this in a statement on Monday.

In January, the national leader of PANDEF and elder statesman Edwin Clark endorsed Mr Obi, which was affirmed by the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) on February 2.

“The attention of PANDEF has been drawn to certain gibberish in the media regarding the forum’s endorsement of Obi, credited to a purported Youth Wing of the forum. PANDEF urges the public to disregard the reported rejection of Obi’s endorsement by the so-called youths,” the statement explained.

PANDEF added, “It is borne out of infantile musings. In the first place, PANDEF does not have ‘wings’. The forum maintains a consolidated framework at the national, state and local government levels. For the avoidance of doubt, PANDEF stands by the endorsement of Obi by our national leader, Clark, and the affirmation by SMBLF.”

The statement stressed that “without equivocation, PANDEF’s endorsement of Obi is sacrosanct” and that PANDEF would not be distracted by the “misdemeanour but would instead intensify efforts to ensure Obi’s victory in the Niger Delta region.”

“The forum cautions youths in the region not to succumb to the antics of greedy politicians and shun all acts of violence before, during and after the forthcoming elections,” noted the PANDEF statement. 

(NAN)