Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Rivers State, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, has unveiled Dr. (Mrs.) Patricia Ogbonnaya, as his running-mate, (deputy governorship candidate) in the 2023 general elections.
He also unveiled former Senator representing Rivers West Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Wilson Ake, as the Director-General of his Campaign Council.
Speaking during the ceremony, Abe said the choice of Ogbonnaya who is the Ada Ekpeye Logbo II of Ekpeye Kingdom, was borne out of the desire to have an astute administrator as his deputy.
He said: “I will give two reasons why and how we came to choose her. First of all, what were we looking for? We were looking for somebody who will add value to the ticket; somebody who can be governor if I am not there.
“Somebody who can lead the state in the direction we want the state to go. Somebody who has knowledge and can advise and contribute to the kind of Rivers State we will all like to see.
“We wanted somebody who will be an asset. We were not necessarily looking for a woman, but with a clear target of what we wanted in mind, we now got to the business of trying to identify who that person should be”.
Abe stated that the choice of Senator Ake as Director-General of the Campaign Council was based on the fact that he is approachable and can approach anyone.
He said: “I want to thank all of you for your support and patience. I stand here today to introduce to you the Director-General of our campaign council.
“We wanted someone who is known to Rivers people, somebody who is approachable and can approach people, somebody who can contribute resources to our project.
“We are here to introduce and unveil the Director-General of our Campaign Council, the real Distinguished Senator Wilson Asinobi Ake.
“When people have given you responsibility to lead, take decisions on their behalf and they will support you. Today, I am a candidate for governor of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and we are talking about Campaign Council that will help us as a team to win election in this state.
“I am the leader of that team; I am the governorship candidate. No matter who I ask, the ultimate responsibility for taking decisions on our behalf will be mine. Have confidence in me as your candidate, I will continue to take decisions in your best interest”.
In his speech, SDP National Chairman, Alhaji Shehu Gaban, stated that the SDP is the second oldest existing political party in Nigeria after the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).
Gaban, who was represented by the Vice Chairman, South-South, Chief Frederick Alaowei Owoforufa, called on the party in the state to work together to ensure victory in 2023.
He said: “The mammoth crowd we are seeing here today should translate to votes on the day of election. Crowd without the votes does not give us the chance that we require.
“The National Chairman expects us to stand firmly by the train that is being driven by His Excellency, Senator Magnus Abe. We have to work together as one family; we have to work together as one team. The team that people at the other side will not be able to break in”.
Earlier in his welcome speech, SDP Chairman in the State, Sensei Solsuema Osaro, described the party as the fastest growing political party, not only in Rivers State but in Nigeria.
Osaro said: “SDP is the fastest growing political party not only in Rivers State but in Nigeria. SDP is grateful to Senator Magnus Abe for providing the opportunity for the party to be the party to beat in the 2023 governorship election in Rivers State”.