The provincial NDP candidate for Ottawa-Centre has Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu in his corner days before voters take to the polls.

Tutu, a renowned South African activist and a retired Anglican bishop, won the Nobel prize in 1984 for his fight against legal racial segregation, or apartheid, in his home country.

In a release from NDP candidate Anil Naidoo's camp Monday, Tutu endorses the South African-born candidate.

"Anil Naidoo has been an advocate for the human right to water, the rights of nature and progressive environmental causes," Tutu wrote from his home in South Africa, according to the release.

"I share these values and support Mr. Naidoo so that he can continue this important work as an elected representative."

Naidoo's family escaped segregation

Tutu, who turns 80 this week, has worked on such causes as recognizing water as a human right.

He has also worked with Naidoo, the release said, adding the Naidoo's family escaped the apartheid to immigrate to Canada.

Naidoo is running against Liberal incumbent MPP Yasir Naqvi, Progressive Conservative candidate Rob Dekker and Green Party candidate Kevin O’Donnell.

The Ontario provincial election is Thursday.