Tag: PDP running mate

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged Nigerians to disregard reports in some section of the media, purporting that it had dismissed the reported emergence of Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers as its Vice-Presidential Candidate for the 2023 general elections.

The party in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Debo Ologunagba in Abuja on Wednesday night, described the report as mischievous and misleading.

The party said that the misleading reports quoted Ologunagba as stating such while addressing some journalists in Abuja on Wednesday.

It stated that for the avoidance of doubt, Ologunagba did not at any time address journalists on the said subject matter as quoted in the misinforming reports.

“To set the records straight, the National Publicity Secretary was a guest on Arise TV Morning Show on Wednesday morning, where he answered questions on PDP’s preparedness for the 2023 general elections as well as June 18, 2022 Ekiti Governorship election

“In the course of the interview, the presenters requested some clarifications on reports in the media that the PDP had concluded its processes on its vice-presidential candidate.

“In response the national publicity secretary stated that the PDP is a party of process and that consultations and discussions were still ongoing in the selection process.”

The PDP said it was therefore mischievous to claim that the Ologunagba made any reference to Wike.

It added that clearly, such distorting claim in a section of the media was the design of mischief makers who were bent on destabilising PDP ahead of the 2023 general elections.

“If anything, our party reiterates its confidence in Wikes’s outstanding ability and commitment to the ideals and values of the PDP.

“His records of achievement as a Local government area chairman, Chief of Staff to the Rivers governor, minister of state for education, currently governor of Rivers and the first runner-up in the PDP presidential primary election, stand him out as possessing requisite qualities, qualifications, capacity and wide acceptability for the position of the vice-presidential candidate of our party.

“The various positions creditably held by Wike distinguished him as an excellent team player in public governance.

“In fact, governor Wike’s energy, brilliance, commitment and passion were acknowledged by the National Working Committee (NWC) of our party and he is adjudged as the foremost candidate in consideration for the position of the vice-presidential candidate of the PDP.”

It added that while the PDP noted the interest of the media and public in the party’s choice of vice-presidential candidate, it was imperative to state that as an organic party, all PDP processes would be followed through in strict adherence to its procedures before any official announcements.

“The PDP urges Nigerians to disregard the mischievous reports aimed at undermining our party’s unity at this critical time.”(NAN)

(Sun)

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate for the 2023 general election, Atiku Abubakar, has met with with governors elected on the platform of the party over preparations for next polls.

We gathered that a meeting at the PDP presidential campaign headquarters, Legacy House, in Abuja, attended by the party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, discussed issues relating to who will be the party’s vice presidential candidate and other issues relating to the prosecution of the polls.

Prior to the conduct of the PDP presidential primary, the governors, it was also gathered, had resolved that one of them would be the party’s vice presidential candidate, in the event that they failed to clinch the presidential ticket.

Four PDP governors, including Nyesom Wike, Udom Emmanuel, Bala Mohammed and Aminu Tambuwal of Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi and Sokoto states had indicated interest to be the opposition party’s presidential standard bearer. Atiku, former vice president, polled 371 votes to clinch the PDP ticket.

In the aftermath of the presidential primary, the focus of party leaders have shifted to the choice of a suitable running mate for the former vice president.

Already, different interest groups are drumming support for either Wike, Emmanuel or the Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, to be chosen as the PDP vice presidential candidate.

Tambuwal, who is also the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the meeting, confirmed that the presidential candidate consulted the governors on issue of a running mate.

The Sokoto governor, who said the parley with Atiku was a consultative, while responding to question on the issue of vice presidential candidate, said: “It is part of the consultation. It is ongoing and we have also been consulted on that.”

He added that Ayu during the meeting thanked the governors for their roles in ensuring the success of the convention.

According to him, “the national chairman came to thank the governors for their various roles in the convention. And we have talked about cooperation and prosecuting a very successful electioneering that will result into victories for the PDP for various elections starting from Houses of Assembly, National Assembly, governorship and the presidential election in February 2023.

“It is more of a consultative meeting on the way forward.”

Governors present at the meeting were Tambuwal, Wike, Emmanuel, Bala Mohammed and Okowa.

Also in attendance were governors Douyi Diri, Samuel Ortom, Seyi Makinde, Godwin Obaseki, Darius Ishaku and Ahmadu Fintiri of Bayelsa, Benue, Oyo, Edo, Taraba and Adamawa states respectively.

(Sun)