The campaign organisation of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for Warri Federal Constituency, Chief Sheriff Mulade, has dismissed as fake and misleading a statement circulating on social media claiming that he conceded defeat and endorsed another aspirant following the party’s primary election.
The campaign described the publication as the handiwork of political opponents seeking to create confusion and undermine the outcome of the primary election.
In a statement signed by the Director of Media and Publicity of Team Chief Sheriff Mulade Campaign Organisation, Comrade Friday Ugedi, the group said the purported statement did not emanate from Mulade and should be disregarded by party members and the general public.
According to the campaign, Chief Mulade remains the duly elected winner of the NDC primary election for Warri Federal Constituency and has neither withdrawn from the race nor endorsed any other aspirant.
“We wish to state categorically, unequivocally and without any ambiguity that the said statement is fake, fraudulent, concocted and the handiwork of desperate, bad-faith individuals who have been rattled by the overwhelming, massive and landslide victory recorded by Chief Sheriff Mulade during the primary election,” the statement read.
The campaign accused those behind the publication of attempting to manipulate public opinion after failing to secure victory at the polls.
It described the authors as “political merchants of falsehood” bent on misleading party faithful and creating uncertainty within the party.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Chief Sheriff Mulade remains firmly in the race and is the duly elected winner of the NDC primary election for the Warri Federal Constituency.
“At no time did he issue any statement conceding defeat, stepping down, withdrawing from the contest or endorsing any other aspirant,” the statement added.
The organisation further alleged that the misinformation campaign was driven by individuals uncomfortable with the level of support enjoyed by Mulade among delegates and stakeholders across Warri North, Warri South and Warri South-West local government areas.
It lamented that rather than accepting the outcome of the primary election, some aggrieved elements had resorted to what it described as forgery, propaganda and fake publications.
The campaign urged members of the public, party supporters and media organisations to ignore the viral statement, insisting that it does not reflect the position of the candidate or his political structure.
“Chief Sheriff Mulade remains committed to the ideals of democracy, transparency and justice, and is confident that the authentic results of the primary election will stand the test of scrutiny,” the statement noted.
It maintained that no amount of misinformation, blackmail or political pressure would overturn the mandate allegedly given to Mulade by delegates during the primary election.
“The victory remains intact, the mandate remains valid, and the aspiration remains on course,” the campaign stated.
