The Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, has pulled out from the race for Delta South Senatorial seat, citing the need for a peaceful electoral process and transition.

Addressing a press conference on Friday in Asaba to announce his withdrawal, Governor Uduaghan observed that his withdrawal from the Senatorial race was in the general interest of the state and democracy at large.

According to him,the first agenda of his administration is peace and security and he will not do anything that will threaten the peace.

He said he had remained committed to bequeathing a peaceful state. “The worst thing that can happen is to be part of the security challenges,” he said.

Dr Uduaghan said he had offered to step down from the Senatorial race to ensure that the tension was reduced and in the overall interest of peace and security in the state.

The Governor stated that he had bought his forms, screened and cleared for the Senatorial seat, but as the person in charge at the state level he had always appealed that elections must not be a do or die affair.

“Unfortunately, there have been a lot of political and ethnic tension that is threatening the peace and security of the state, which has been noticed even at the national level,” he said.

While commending his teeming supporters for their unflinching loyalty and support, Dr Uduaghan stated that the interest of the state supersedes personal interests.

He further told reporters that he was not forced to withdraw from the senatorial race. “Nobody forced me to step down, I owe it to Deltans for the peace and security of the state.