Delta Guber: NNPP’s Goodnews Agbi concedes defeat, congratulates Governor-elect, Oborevwori

The governorship candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Delta State, Dr Goodnews Agbi, has congratulated the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and governor-elect, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, on his election victory.

Oborevwori, the current speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, was declared winner of the March 18 governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after collation of results.

Oborevwori polled 360,234 votes to defeat 34 governorship candidates including the Deputy President of the Senate and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ovie Omo-Agege m, to emerge winner.

In a statement on Monday personally signed by the NNPP guber candidate, Agbi said although his supporters were disenfranchised from exercising their civic responsibility, he had come to accept the outcome of the election.

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While congratulating Oborevwori, he noted that he had accepted the wish and decision of the people of the state who spoke loudly through the ballot on Saturday March 18.

“I have reviewed the outcome of 2023 governorship election held on Saturday March 18 in Delta State. From our reviews, scores of our supporters were disenfranchised during the election across the 25 local government councils. INEC rigged NNPP out abinitio.

“Also, our party logo was not visible and almost eventually missing on the ballot papers, thereby creating confusion among our supporters who troop out in their large numbers to freely exercise their will and cast their votes for our party.

“We also received reports from our agents and supporters across the state about massive malpractices, especially obvious vote buying. This, we considered, as undemocratic plot to circumvent the will of our people.

“However, our party and my campaign council will review this INEC deliberate disenchantment of supporters and total outcome of the election with a view to seeking legal redress of this INEC ineptitude. I however congratulate Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Delta State Governor-elect, who was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“We joined the race because we observed that Deltans were not happy with the current trajectory of underdevelopment and lack of accountability in the state. We expect the governor-elect to change these narratives and trajectory by being accountable and judicious with our state resources”, the statement read.

Agbi, however, used the opportunity to thank Deltans, particularly NNPP members for the support they accorded him during the electioneering and
Election Day across the 25 local government areas of the State and that in spite of this gross and deliberate omission or commission by INEC, NNPP still had a good showing in most local governments, especially at Ughelli North and Ughelli South, coming behind PDP, APC and Labour party.