A frontline aspirant in the 2023 governorship race in Delta State, Chief James Augoye has said that he remains formidably in the race despite not being listed in the final report of the DC-23 governorship screening committee.
Chief Augoye, who made this known in Asaba, the state capital while addressing newsmen on Sunday said the outcome of the DC-23 report has even spurred him to carry on with his governorship ambition believing first that power comes from God and that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, delegates for the governorship primary would vote wisely for him to emerge as the party’s flagbearer in the 2023 general elections.
Augoye, who is the immediate past Commissioner for Works of Delta State said he subjected himself to the DC-23 exercise to fulfil all righteousness, stressing that the outcome of the political pressure group’s screening exercise is not final.
According to him, he has the mandate of Deltans to represent them as Governor come 2023, and that throwing in the towel at any point when the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was yet to conduct primaries would mean letting Deltans down.
Augoye stressed that candidates for elective positions in Nigeria are determined by political parties and not political pressure groups. He, therefore, urged his teeming followers in the State, across the federation and in the diaspora to remain calm, focused and stay the course.
Augoye said: “The outcome of the screening exercise of DC-23 has been brought to my notice. The outcome is not surprising. The screening committee had its job cut out.
“I shared my ideas and plans for the growth and development of Delta State with the committee. I was able to prove to the committee that I am the best choice for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to win the 2023 governorship election in Delta.
“I told the committee that I am not only contesting the governorship election on a personal mandate but on a collective mandate of Deltans. Deltans have reposed their trust in me. They have given me their mandate. So, I cannot let them down.
“Even, our amiable Governor, His Excellency, Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa and other leaders of our great party, the PDP have agreed that the governorship primaries would be free for all, fair and transparent.
“Moreover, I subjected myself to the screening exercise to fulfil all righteousness. The outcome of the screening is not final. As enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, only a political party can present a candidate for election, not a pressure group.
“On these grounds, I am still very much in the race for the 2023 governorship election of Delta State. We will see at the primaries. At this time, I urge my teeming followers at home and in the diaspora to remain calm, focused and stay the course.”
