National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, yesterday, said despite the raging leadership crisis in the party, PDP would win over 25 states and majority seats at the National Assembly in the 2023 general election. Ayu said this at a meeting with the 28 PDP governorship candidates.
But in Bauchi State, the governor, Bala Mohammed, said he was not aware of any on-going reconciliation meeting between some members of the party and Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike.
Relatedly, a PDP member of the House of Representatives from Degema/Bonny Federal Constituency in Rivers State, Hon. Farah Dagogo, assured the presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar, and his running mate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, of the unflinching support of the Niger Delta people. Dagogo said a 10-million-man march for the presidential hopeful was being planned in the region.
However, Special Assistant on Media to Wike, Mr. Kelvin Ebiri, lambasted former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, over what he described as Lamido’s disdainful remarks against his principal on Channels television.
Speaking at a meeting with the 28 PDP governorship candidates, Ayu said, “We are happy that the members of the party are very determined that we don’t just win at the national level. State Houses of Assembly, National Assembly, state governorship, we want to return about 25 state governors or more as we used to have. So, the mood in the party is excellent.”
Ayu said the governorship candidates came to express their concerns in their various states. He stated , “They briefed us on the efforts they are making in their various states to win the election. As you know, the elections will be won in the states not just at the national level.
“I am very happy with the progress that they have made so far in various states and some of the little issues that we have clarified and it was an extremely useful meeting.”
Speaking on the outcome of the meeting, Mohammed, who is seeking re-election said, “I am not aware of the meeting between other party members and Governor Wike”, adding that the PDP chairman has already spoken, and that the governorship candidates were loyal party members.
According to the governor, “We believe in the supremacy and sanctity of the party and he has already told you that the mood is very excellent. The candidates are coming together, uniting the party to discuss, even issues of reconciliation.
“So, it is a very democratic party. He is open and we have asked him all the questions that we need to ask about how to win the elections and then the strategies are ours. We don’t have to relate it to the media now, but, certainly, we are on course.”
Speaking also, the Kaduna State governorship candidate and chairman of PDP Governorship Candidates’ Forum, Isa Mohammed Ashiru, said, “We are here on a consultative meeting with our leaders on the way forward and we have extended discussions and views, regarding the 2023 elections. We are home and dry. We don’t have crisis in PDP. I don’t know where you got this information.”
