Chairman of the Labour Party in Rivers State, Dienye Pepple and some executives from the 23 local council of the state says they have adopted Sir, Siminialaiyi Fubara, governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as their candidate for the March 11 governorship polls in the state.
Pepple stated this in a communiqué issued Tuesday in Port Harcourt.
He said their endorsement is for equity and fairness to the Rivers South Senatorial District that has not produced any governor in the state, adding that the decision is inline with the ideals of the party.
He however, urged members to vote Labour Party candidates for House of Assembly and PDP for governorship.
Pepple said, “While our leader heads to the court to resolve the issues that concern the outcome of the polls, we must not lose sight of the opportunity to once again demonstrate the values that define him, define us as a people, and define our noble party. The values of Equity, Fairness, Justice, and Balance.
“In the past few days, the party in the state was hit by a major shock of an unknown person surfacing and claiming to be our gubernatorial candidate, coupled with the news making rounds on social media that our gubernatorial candidate Comrade Mrs Beatrice Itubo has stepped down and adapted the APC candidate.
“In order for us not to remain in the dark, the party in line with the 23 LGA’s chairmen has decided to support a credible candidate irrespective of the party affiliation, a candidate who must be young and vibrant and must hail from the senatorial district that haven’t produced a Governor before in the state.
“All through the history of this great and outstanding state, the Rivers West district has produced the Governor once in person of Sir. (Dr.) Peter Odili. The Rivers East Senatorial District has produced the Governor thrice, while the district of Rivers South-East has never had this opportunity, thereby flouting and negating the values of Equity, Fairness, Justice, and Balance. Values that are both foundational and intrinsic to the Labour Party.
“As Labour Party members, and as OBIdient adherents to the aforementioned values, we must come out and support a region that has never in the history of the state produced a Governor.
“Voting a Riverine candidate in the person of ‘Sir Siminalayi Fubara’ from the South-East Senatorial district of the upcoming gubernatorial polls, ensures that the Labour Party and her members are defenders and ambassadors of the values that have set her and the OBIdient movement apart from all other parties.
“We urge all Labour Party members, supporters and our OBIdient team to come out in their numbers on Saturday 11th March 2023 to vote Sir. Siminalayi Fubara from the South East Senatorial District of Rivers State for Governor, and vote all other Labour Party candidates for the state House of Assembly in their various constituencies”.
