My take on the just concluded Edo State gubernatorial election, where Governor Godwin Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was declared the winner is that our democracy is thriving.
As a core member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), I find the defeat of our gubernatorial candidate regrettable, but politics is about the people, specifically the majority. The people of Edo State have spoken aloud by re-electing Godwin Obaseki as their Governor.
This election should be a strong learning point for my dear party as we prepare for the forthcoming Ondo State gubernatorial election. We shouldn’t allow conflicts between individuals or groups degenerate into an electoral loss for the party. The interest of the people, our nation and the party must always come first.
We must go back to the drawing board and put our house in order ahead of the election in Ondo State. The people of Edo State spoke with their votes without violence. The election was adjudged free and fair by the majority. I commend President Muhammadu Buhari for creating an enabling environment for this to happen. We must replicate same in Ondo state. As a party, we should win the heart of the people of Ondo State and win the gubernatorial election for our dear party, APC in a free and fair manner.
I am confident that if we allow internal democracy in our party by giving every member a sense of belonging, APC will win the Ondo state gubernatorial election.
Again, what happened in Edo state was a clear demonstration of a thriving democracy, and we all should encourage this. To my fellow young people, the recent happenings is a proof that your votes count, we should be hopeful that things will get better. Time for idle social media commentary is gone, it is time to take the lead, it is time to get involved. We must become the change we seek.
Hon. Shina Peller
MHR
Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa federal constituency.
