The Delta Obidient Elders Council have tasked Governor Sheriff Oborevwori on the need to ensure that the scheduled July 13 Local Government Elections in the state were transparent, free, fair and credible.

The group gave the charge while briefing newsmen after its meeting on Saturday in Asaba.

The Council Chairman, Chris Biose, said the Obidient movement did not belong to the Labour Party.

According to him, the Obidient Movement constitutes a category of Nigerians from all walks of life, home and in diaspora and has no place in the organogram of the LP.

He said, “Obidients found Mr Peter Obi as a vehicle for the realisation of their mission of good governance for Nigeria and therefore embraced him, and LP massively supported him in the February 25, 2023 presidential election. This informed why some Obidients withdrew their support for LP in subsequent elections where Obi was not the candidate. In Delta State, the leadership of LP failed to express appreciation to Obidient Youths across political party lines who engaged in self-sponsorship and political self mobilisation to work for it in the state during the presidential election.

“In this regard, Delta Obidient Elders’ Council believe that it has a duty to first of all, thank and appreciate youths of Delta State and encourage them to rebuild the patriotic zeal which they displayed on February 25, 2023.”

Mr Biose assured that the elders’ council would continue to support the youth, while blaming the LP national leadership for abandoning the youth and engaging in intra-party power struggle.

He regretted that the party failed to harness the political energy generated by the youths during the presidential election.

He also congratulated Mr Oborevwori on his administration’s efforts in providing quality physical infrastructure and his recent birthday anniversary celebration.

According to the Obidient elder, the litmus test of democratic governance is credible elections, while rigged elections are worse than a military coup.

“In this regard, the Delta State LG polls scheduled to hold on July 13 presents the most significant test of the credibility of Governor’s Oborevwori’s administration. We sincerely appeal to the Delta Political class to shun violence and fraud at the forthcoming LG election. The younger generation are watching; if political leaders continue to sow seeds of violence and fraud by their actions during elections, it will be impossible to build a sane society or a great nation from such a sordid foundation. That history and posterity may remember Your Excellency, Governor  Oborevwori for good; we urge you to ensure free, and fair LG elections on July 13,” he said.

He, however, lamented the present hardship in the country, adding that Obidients were irrevocably committed to the building of a new Nigeria.

The chairman, while appreciating the roles played by the media and youths, urged them not to relent in their commitment towards ensuring free, fair and credible elections in the country.

Also,  the Proterm Secretary of the Council, Solomon Akeni. said that to ensure free, fair and credible governance at the local government levels, it would require the amendment of the relevant laws to grant autonomy to the third tier of government.

According to him, it is only when the Independent National Electoral Commission takes charge of the LG elections, that it will be free from the clutches of the governors.

On her part, a member of the Council, Dr Lizy Onyemah, said that outside the roles played by INEC and judiciary in elections, citizens must change their orientation and stop collecting money from politicians during elections.

Onyemah said that accepting money during elections meant that citizens had already sold their future. “So, to enable free, fair and credible elections, citizens have a great role to play by not accepting any form of inducement from politicians.”

 (NAN)