The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said it is alive and ready to take over from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019.
That was just as the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, said about 20 serving senators of the ruling APC were ready to join the PDP once the leadership crisis in the PDP is resolved. Also, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, said those who left PDP to APC in the South East have no electoral value, and are joining APC for contracts and employment opportunities.
“My response is that, my brothers and sisters from the South East, who are defecting know the electoral value of each and everyone of us. “We should allow them get the contract they are looking for, to get employment they are looking for.
At the appropriate time we will know who is who in the South East. There is nothing to worry about. We are completely in control,” Ekweremadu stated. At its 73rd National Executive Committee (NEC) and Expanded Caucus Meeting in Abuja yesterday, the party leaders said the party was repositioning to be much more vibrant to play the role as main opposition in the country.
Two governors and six deputy governors, as well as members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) and National Assembly caucus attended the meeting, which was presided over by Chairman of the National Working Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi. Akpabio, who said that PDP senators in the National Assembly are intact and supportive of the National Caretaker Committee of the party, noted that all the APC senators want is a return of peace to the PDP.
“As I speak, so many senators from the opposing party are eager to join PDP. All they want is return of peace to the party. Once that is done, I can assure you that 20 senators are on their way to joining the PDP,” he added.
“There is no election that will be conducted in the former PDP 28 states that the party will not win. That is a matter of fact. Akpabio regretted the leadership crisis in the party, noting that it caused the PDP Edo and Ondo states. He decried the recent court injunctions in Ekiti State, adding, “I need to emphasise that if we don’t put our house in order, we may not win election.
“Anambra election is coming up in November this year. If we as a party don’t go down to grassroots and we continue to make flowery speech, we may not rebuild the party.” He advised those who are thinking of defection to retrace their steps because PDP would bounce back to victory in 2009. Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, said the entire country is tired of APC and are yearning for another change. “The whole country is not only tired of the ruling party, they want another change.
If not for the constitution, they want the change tomorrow.” According to Fayose, party leaders should work together while those aspiring for offices should do so with decorum. “I will continue to leak their secrets. I will remain a torn in their flesh.
Anything they want to do, let them come. If they want to carry their police, let them carry their police. I don’t care,” he said.
No comments