National Convention: PDP Governors meet Ayu, Anyanwu
PDP will emerge from national convention stronger, more united — Tambubuwal
The Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who met with Sen. Iyorcha Ayu, the aspirant for National Chairman and Senator Samuel Anyanwu, an aspirant for National Secretary, during their meeting, have denied endorsing any candidate.
It was widely reported that Ayu was the consensus candidate for the North, while Anyanwu, an aspirant for the National Secretary position was having an opponent in the person of Okey Muo-Aroh, ahead of the party national convention scheduled for October 30 and 31.
Also the consensus candidateship of Anyanwu, who was endorsed by governors and stakeholders from the South East zone had collapsed when Muo-Aroh decided to also contest the position.
Cyril Maduabum, who was also in the race for same position had earlier in a letter to the PDP National Convention Organising Committee, withdrew from the race.
Fielding questions from journalists shortly after their meeting that lasted for several hours, the governors said that they received a briefing from the convention committee.
Asked if the presence of Ayu and Senator Anyanwu was an indication of a tacit endorsement by the governors, the PDP Governors’ Forum Chairman and Sokoto state governor, Aminu Tambuwal said, “No, no, no. They came for a private discussion with one or two governors. They had their private discussions and left.”
Tambuwal, who said that PDP will come out more united from the convention added that “we have just finished our meeting where we received briefings from the convention planning/organizing committee, the governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, that we are on course and by the grace of God, they have almost concluded every arrangement and plan for a very successful, free and fair convention for the PDP coming up on the 30th and 31st of this month.
“We are very grateful to the convention planning committee and other sub-committees for the work they are doing.
“We are optimistic that PDP is going to come out more united from this convention and much more ready to provide the desired platform upon which many Nigerians can realize their aspirations and we shall continue to deepen our democracy and work together as democrats for greater Nigeria.
“The work for the convention is in progress for us to have a successful, hitch-free and peaceful convention.”
Aside from Delta, Benue and Taraba state governors, every other PDP governors were in attendance of the meeting, which was held in Abuja on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, former Governor of Enugu State, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani has showered encomium on Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State for an outstanding maturity in the discharge of his assignment as chairman of the PDP Committee on the zoning of key party offices ahead of 2023.
Nnamani, in a statement, said that Governor Ugwuanyi was arguably on the spot during the assignment as all stakeholders beamed searchlight on how the committee was handling the contentious issue of zoning key offices in the Party.
“But Ugwuanyi’s Committee came out unscathed as the recommendation from the assignment calmed frayed nerves,” he said.
Impressed with the development, Senator Nnamani, who represents Enugu East Senatorial Zone in the Senate, said Gov. Ugwuanyi has given a good account of his stewardship as a worthy Ambassador of Enugu State and South East Zone.
He noted that Gov. Ugwuanyi led committee’s impressive outing and his purposeful leadership of the Party in the South East Zone is a good prelude of how he will pilot the affairs of the PDP to success in 2023.
He said, “Governor Ugwuanyi has demonstrated good character and provided leadership. This attribute cannot be taken for granted.”
He however enjoined Governor Ugwuanyi to sustain the good works in order to keep the PDP as a Party of choice especially in the South East Zone.
The former Governor expressed optimism that the PDP will regain its lost ground in the South East ahead of 2023 polls.
