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All candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 elections are to engage in an issue-based campaign and eschew violence and acts that will heat up the polity.

They are also to promote the ideals of the PDP and ensure that they did not indulge in acts that will cast aspersions on the reputation of the party.

The Delta State chapter of the party made the appeal in a statement signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza, who stated that the plea became necessary in view of the official commencement of campaigns by qualified candidates and registered political parties for the election which commences on Sunday, 2018 as directed by the Indirect

Dr. Osuoza said: “As we eagerly commence our official campaign activities for the 2019 general elections, which kicks off on Sunday, November 18, 2018, for the Presidential and National Assembly candidates and later on December 1, 2018, for the Governorship and State Assemblies candidates, as stipulated by the INEC, the Delta PDP hereby enjoins all our candidates, who will fly the flag of our great party in the various elective positions, to uphold the fine tenets of our party and embark on the campaign trail with an issues-based agenda, avoid violence and smear campaigns and embrace the excellent and positive attributes that have always made PDP the winning political party in Delta State”.

“The Delta PDP Spokesman who also congratulated all the candidates that were duly cleared as qualified, by the National Working Committee of the PDP, and listed by INEC to contest the 2019 elections, equally called on all loyalists, support groups and other campaign structures set up by the various candidates, to avoid activities, both physically and in the social media that would cause rancour and unnecessary tension in the polity, during the campaign period.

“We heartily congratulate all our candidates, whose names were submitted by our National Working Committee after the primaries and made the final list of qualified candidates, as approved by INEC to contest the 2019 elections under our Umbrella. The keenly contested party primaries have come and gone and the real electoral battle has now commenced with the kick-off of the campaigns. Our appeal now is for all our party faithful, candidates and supporters to close ranks and join hands together for the challenge ahead to ensure total victory for the PDP in all the elections, from State through Federal to the Presidential elections”.

According to Osuoza, “Every candidate who has emerged as our party flag-bearer for the 2019 general elections, has become the symbol of the PDP and we urge all of them to embrace party unity, carry everybody along, go into the campaigns on their own merits and popularity and present a credible and convincing manifesto of their capacity not only to fly our flag with pride and conviction but also showcase their capabilities to deliver the dividends of democracy to Deltans.

“We also implore all candidates and their teeming supporters and loyalists to eschew violent conduct, desist from any acts that may cause undue conflicts and frictions during the campaigns, maintain order and civility, exhibit maturity and decorum, obey the rules and guidelines laid down for the process and imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship and brotherly love like one united family, as they go about the campaigns, bearing in mind that the ultimate objective is to win the general elections which the PDP must go into as a united and unshakable force,” he charged.

Dr. Osuoza, further noted that, “Delta PDP, as a responsible political party, is driven and motivated by our avowed creed and objective to return power back to the people and this has inspired us to ensure that we always embark on a comprehensive and robust campaign drive to all the households, units, wards and local governments across the nooks, crannies, and creeks across the State, to bring representation closer to the people and deliver a satisfactory campaign where the wish and desires of the people will be delivered by our candidates.

“We, therefore, enjoin all our members, leaders, faithful and supporters to display the highest levels and examples of party discipline, decency, tolerance and be on their best behaviour in order to ensure that we all embrace a credible and satisfactory campaign that will shame our detractors and convince the opposition, who only campaign on social media and on the pages of newspapers, that the PDP is fully on ground and poised for comprehensive victories in the 2019 general elections. We have done it before and we will do it again, all the way to the Presidency in 2019,” Osuoza said..