Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed concern over the meeting of some PDP governors with presidential candidates of other parties, saying such politicking is likely to confuse PDP supporters.
The party therefore called on the national leadership of the party to call for an all-inclusive meeting with its governors on the need to close ranks and work with a bid to win the 2023 general presidential elections.
This position was contained in a press release issued by Edo State c hairman PDP, Dr Tony Aziegbemi, in Benin City, who also assured that the state’s votes for Atiku Abubakar are non-negotiable.
The party chairman was referring to the recent trip of five PDP governors to London and their subsequent meetings with presidential candidates of two other parties, Mr Peter Obi, of the Labour Party (LP), and Sen. Ahmed Bola Tinubu, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as well as former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.
He said, “The governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, who is the leader of the delegation, in a Media interview said that survival of the country was the main motive behind himself and some other governors’ meeting with presidential candidates of different parties in London recently.
“It was also reported that the highly respected five Governors and Leaders of the party led by His Excellency, Samuel Ortom of Benue state in the trip also held a reconciliation meeting with the presidential candidate of our highly esteem party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.”
According to the PDP state chairman, “Edo state chapter of the Peoples Democratic party is quite elated with the statement credited to Benue State Governor Samuel ortom that the meeting was for the good of the country, hence, might not have anything to do with supporting other parties’ candidates aspiration, we are however, worried that the meeting might be mistaken for support for other presidential candidates of other parties by the supporters of our party(PDP).”
He stressed that “With barely few months to the 2023 general elections that would herald a new, progressive and functional government headed by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the need for the party to close ranks, irrespective of perceived differences should now be at the front burner.
“The essence of the existence of any political structure or political party is to win elections, which is also the intention of our dear party.”
