PDP Setting The Pace In Credible Polls – Ikuru

As the countdown to the 2011 General Elections draws closer, Rivers State Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru, has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is already setting the pace in ensuring transparency and c edibility in the conduct of elections in the country.

   Engr. Ikuru said this Monday shortly after the PDP State House of Assembly primaries at Ngo, headquarters of Andoni Local Government Area of the State.

  At the end of voting, the incumbent legislator representing Andoni LGA in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, was returned as the flag bearer of the party for the election. He won a landslide victory polling 163 votes against that of his rival, Mr. Fanyeofori Johnson, who polled 42.

The State Deputy Governor declared that “PDP is setting a precedent with this election. The voting process was very transparent; as you can see, there was no mago mago, no wuru wuru, everyone is satisfied with the outcome of the elections,” noting that “every candidate got equal opportunity to vote and be voted for”.

Speaking, the Chairman of Andoni Local Government Area, Mr. Sylvanus Kingston, declared that era of “carry go” in the conduct of elections in the country has gone, saying that the success of the primaries in the Jrea, being the first election under his watch, underscores the fact that Nigeria’s democracy has a great future.

Mr. Kingston expressed optimism that there is hope for the nation’s democracy, stressing that “the PDP in Andoni hJS conducted a free and fJir primaries that everyone has witnessed,” thanking the security agencies, the Press and other stakeholders for their efforts at ensuring the success of the primdries.

Reacting to the outcome of the primaries, the declared winner, Hon. Ibani attributed his victory to God’s faithfulness, expressing appreciation to the people of Andoni for the trust reposed in him, notin.::; that his r2-election as the party’s flag bearer in the area confers on him enormous responsibilitv to represent them well when finally re-elected.

Expressing the hope that the nation’s democracy will get better, Hon. Ibani, noted that democracy being an evolving f)rocess hold the key to a new Nigeria, pointing out that the Andoni people are committed to ensuring credible polls and stability in the polity.