By Temitope Adedeji
The crisis rocking the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) at the national level has crept into Ondo State as candidates of the party have abandoned the presidential candidate of the party, Alhaji Atiku Abubarkar for independent campaigns.
The candidates especially those loyal to former Governor of the state, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, who is a member of the Integrity Group led by Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike have not attached the picture of Atiku Abubarkar and his running mate, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa to their posters.
The G-5 led by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, have been calling for the resignation of the PDP National Chairman, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu, as a means of striking a balance in the party. Other aggrieved Governors include: Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State.
One of the candidates of the party told reporters yesterday that the leadership of the party in the state have not helped his aspiration and would not allow his political future to be toyed with by those whose only interest is campaign funds.
Also, a House of Representatives candidate in Ondo South senatorial district said the party cannot win any election under the present arrangements where the focus is on who becomes the governorship candidate in 2024 when the presidential election has not been concluded.
He said the party in the state has been compromised, waiting for campaign fund to be shared without showing concern whether or not, the party wins the 2023 elections and that led to the low turnout for the flag-off Southwest rally of the party November 30.
Another candidate told reporters that he has committed personal resources to his aspiration and would not want a compromised party leadership to destroy his political fortune.
This development came as a group under the auspices of PDP South West Integrity Group (PS-WIYG), urged the party’s Presidential Candidate, Alh. Atiku Abubakar, to quickly reconcile with the G-5 Governors in order to avoid losing out in the 2023 general election.
The group, however, expressed displeasure over Atiku’s inability to unify the party despite being tagged a Unifier.
The youth group, therefore called on the leadership of the party to look into some demands of the G-5 Governors in order to avoid complete destruction of PDP.
The convener of the group, Fola Awodola, said the surest way to defeat the All Progressives Congress at the 2023 poll was to shun infighting and nip the lingering in the
The convener who described the recent PDP presidential rally held in Akure as an eyesore, argued that the internal crisis in the party occasioned the low turn out recorded in the Lagos rally.
Awodola said, “Let us reiterate that the fight for equity, fairness and justice being led by the Integrity governors and supported by all well-meaning leaders of our great party in the southwest is a battle we are ready to see to the end
“We can no longer fold our arms and let the utter disrespect for our region continue. We call on the leadership of the PDP to look into the demands of the Integrity group and approve same to prevent the complete destruction of the party before it is too late”
“We believe, and strongly so, that we can only defeat the incompetent and poverty-minded APC as a united front, as this division in our party, if allowed to get to the election year, will spell doom for us”
“It is on this note we call on Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Unifier, to demonstrate his unifying prowess to the whole world by unifying the party and not just live in the euphoria of such a cliché “The Unifier”. He should not allow the unpatriotic people to mislead him and prevent him from achieving his dream of leading this great country, Nigeria”
“The rally here in Akure, the Ondo state capital, was an eyesore as the “crowd” at the campaign ground wasn’t up to half of what we had in 2019, this due to lack of inclusiveness and division among the party State Leadership hierarchy”
“As if this is not enough, the aerial view of the Lagos state campaign released on social media leaves a sour taste in our mouth as we wonder how we intend to rescue Lagos from the hold of the man who has turned it to his private estate with such a low turnout at our major rally in the state”
But the PDP Publicity Secretary, Mr Kennedy Peretei said there is nothing like Integrity Group in the state as all the candidates are on the same page with the presidential candidate and his running mate.
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