One of the growing new political parties in Nigeria, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) said it is set to spring up surprises in the next year’s general election based on the caliber of candidates the party fielded for the elections as well as its outstanding manifesto which guarantees the delivery of democracy dividends to the people.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after the receipt of an Award of Excellence from a media consultant for his contributions and sacrifices to humanity over the weekend in Port Harcourt, the SDP candidate for Oyigbo state constituency for the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Innocent Mgbonye Ajaelu said as a tested and trusted politician, he was ready to rescue his people from bad representation in the past. He added that the award will spur him to do more for the society in general.
On the relationship between the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) which they left, Hon. Ajaelu said it is very cordial.
According to him, “while our standard bearer Senator Magnus Abe has a personal relationship with the distinguished Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC presidential candidate, we are two separate political parties with our different manifestos and identity,” he said.
He however, disclosed that the forthcoming general election emphasizes more on the credibility of the candidates who can actually deliver and not party consideration.
“The next year’s election must be based on character, trust, experience and competence of an individual candidates”. Hon. Ajaelu urged the electorates to vote in the SDP candidates and expect quality governance with establishment of industries and conducive environment for the creation of wealth for the Rivers indigenes.
He made it clear that with the SDP gubernatorial candidate in the person of distinguished Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, the state will witness tremendous transformation because of his load of experience which he noted, cut across the three arms of government.
“Distinguished Senator Abe has been in the corridors of power since 1999 and that qualifies him to be ahead of other candidates for the governorship race. He equally has a blueprint ready for the job unlike others and as well lives in the state and knows the people and their challenges better than other contestants,” he said.
He further said that Abe unlike most contestants has not been found wanting in all the various offices he has occupied, neither has he faced any probe for criminal charges and so should be entrusted with the well-being of the people.
Asked to rate the APC federal government, Hon. Ajaelu said he won’t rate them high but they have not failed either.“The Electoral Act which was eventually passed into law is one of their success stories”, he said.
The former Oyigbo Local Council Chairman used the opportunity to advise the President, Mohammadu Buhari to restore hope on the Nigerian citizens before he leaves office.
He equally called for the immediate overhauling of the national security architecture to guarantee security, peace and public safety, adding that the Buhari administration appears to be the worst period in Nigerian history.
The Oyigbo State Assembly hopeful maintained that with the Electoral Act law, Nigeria will witness about 90% vote count with little or no rigging chances or electoral violence.
“Rigging or electoral violence have been reduced tremendously with the passage of the law,” he said.
Hon. Ajaelu maintained that with Sen. Abe on the saddle, the insecurity, economic downturn and rising corruption in the land, the challenges will be tackled headlong through the creation of conducive environment and partnership with the businessmen/women.
Asked to also rate the Wike PDP government in the state, Hon Ajaelu scored it high too especially on the infrastructural development but that Governor Wike failed in the area of Human Capital Development, Employment and Empowerment of the people.
