By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the February 3 bye-election for Ebonyi South Senatorial District, Barr. Silas Onu, has vowed that nobody will be allowed to rig the election.

He stated this in an interaction with journalists on Wednesday in his Uburu country home, Ohaozara Local Government Area of the state.

Onu noted that the people of the zone are very enlightened and will not allow anyone write results or rig the election.

He also expressed confidence that since it is an off cycle election, there will be high concentration of Observers, Journalists and Security Outfits that will make it hard for anyone to rig the election.

Onu, a former State Chairman of PDP, expressed confidence of emerging victorious at the polls as he enjoys massive support and goodwill of the voters in the senatorial zone.

He said: “I am a fighter and I will fight for them. I will also fight for a credible election. Nobody will write result or rig this election. Our people should come and vote; it will count.

“Our people are very enlightened when it comes to elections and they vote. And there is one Party that resonates with them, umbrella party as the rural people will call it PDP.

“They recognize that our logo is the umbrella and on that day they will thumbprint beside the umbrella. And I can assure our people that this vote for PDP is a vote for liberation, it is a vote for emancipation.

“It is a vote to show that the people matter because if you allow a single individual to raise that hand of a person and say, ‘this is who I want to replace me’, it means the people no longer matter.

“So, our people are wise and our people are independent. We thank God this is an off season election. We will have a good concentration of observers, security and media.

“So nobody, not even government can interfere in this process, it is only the will of the people that will determine the outcome. That is where I stand and that is where I believe we should all stand.”

The PDP senatorial candidate promised true representation for the people if elected.

“I have always been closer to my people, they always come around me, I assist those who are in need and I spend most of my time with them.

“My people will experience for the first time true representation in the Senate. I have built a wealth of advocacy as lawyer, so I am not a stranger in advocacy.

“I will push for their rights and benefits. Our people will no longer have a senator who goes there to look for himself and his own interest.

“They will have a representative in the Senate who will fight for them, who will defend them, who will attract projects to the senatorial zone,” he said.

The position became vacant following the resignation of Senator David Umahi to take up an appointment as Minister by President Bola Tinubu.

Onu will battle candidates of five other political parties including the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and Labour Party (LP) for the coveted senatorial seat.