7th April, 2015
The Labour Party on Tuesday dismissed speculation that its governorship candidate in Delta, Chief Great Ogboru, had stepped down for his All Progressives Congress (APC) opponent, Mr O’tega Emerhor.
Chairman of the party in the state, Chief Tony Ezeagwu, made this known to NAN in Abuja.
Ezeagwu told NAN that neither the party nor its candidate was contemplating any “understanding” with or stepping down for the APC candidate, saying that it was truly a speculation and a rumour.
According to him, the stepping down issue is a rumour being orchestrated by Emerhor and a section of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU).
“It is the APC candidate, O’tega, that is championing the issue and causing some agents to spread the rumour.
“Our candidate has not and will not step down for anybody. We are seriously going round the state on campaign and the election on April 11 is our focus.
“I will advise the APC and O’tega to focus on their own campaign and not allow anyone or group to delude them that Ogboru has stepped down or will step down for them,” he said.
NAN reports that the UPU had raised a six-member committee headed by Chief Godwin Ogbetuo to adopt a single candidate out of Ogboru and Emerhor.
The move was aimed at actualising the wish of the union to produce a governor from the ethnic group at Saturday’s governorship polls and use it as tonic for total reconciliation of its crisis.
On Monday, speculation was rife that Ogboru had stepped down for Emerhor following an understanding between both candidates and their parties at the instance of the committee.
It was, however, gathered that the committee had not fully completed its job and was yet to make contact with Ogboru on the issue.