The cracks within the Peoples Democratic Party showed its depth further on Wednesday as Governors Samuel Ortom of Benue State; Seyi Makinde of Oyo State; Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State; Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, all believed to be allies of Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, boycotted the inauguration of the Party’s Presidential Campaign Council.
Part of the event was also book launch in honour of the presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
All the Governors absent are loyalists of Wike.
Also absent from the event was the National Chairman of the PDP who, according to the Deputy National Chairman (North), Umar Damagum, was absent as a result of ill-health.
Other PDP governors believed to be loyal to the party’s presidential candidate were, however, in attendance.
They include: Governors Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State; Diri Duoye of Bayelsa State; Godwin Obaseki of Edo State; Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State; Darius Ishaku of Taraba State; Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State; and Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State.
The Delta State governor and running mate to Atiku, Ifeanyi Okowa, was also present at the event.
The event further betrayed the unending crisis within the party with Wike leading the onslaught to have the National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu removed.
Speaking at the event, Aminu Tambuwal, governor of Sokoto and Director-General of the campaign council urged members of the council to be united in working for the victory of the party.
“The campaign council will serve as the vehicle to deliver the PDP and its presidential flagbearer to the villa on the 29th May, 2023, by the special grace of God,” Tambuwal said.
“All of us are going to hit the ground running and we shall work collectively as a family to ensure the victory of our party.
“The party of the PDP, and indeed its candidate, is the party to beat in this election. It’s only for us to work and, God on our side, we shall deliver this victory to our party and to Nigerians.
“We believe INEC shall conduct free and fair elections. By so doing, victory by the grace of God is guaranteed for the PDP.”
In his remarks, Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the PDP, congratulated the members of the campaign council.
“I wish to congratulate all the men and women nominated to serve in the presidential campaign council,” he said.
“You have been selected from among the millions of our party members to join this esteemed council because of your past contributions to the party.
“Not all members of our party can be in the presidential campaign council, but every single member of the PDP is an important member and each one of you is still entrusted with the responsibility of leading our party to victory in next year’s elections.
“I wish you all the very best in your endeavours and I welcome you all as you join me to lead the efforts to win next year’s general election and help rebuild our country.
“Together, as one, we can get this job done. May God guide and bless us all and may God guide and bless our dear country Nigeria.”
Earlier, the PDP Deputy National Chairman, (North) Amb. Umaru Damagun, extended the apologies of the party’s National Chairman, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu, whom he said was in Europe for medicals.
He said, “I want to give the excuse of my national chairman who is unavoidably absent, who is far away in Europe addressing some health challenges, but he sent his goodwill message to all of you.”
Damagun noted that the woeful performance of the ruling All Progressives Congress, in contrast with the unrivaled outstanding performance of the PDP while in office for 16 years spoke volumes about what the PDP will do when given the chance.
He said the task of removing the APC from power was a patriotic duty.
The acting National Chairman said, “This is an ominous task that must be handed with all sense of patriotism to both the party and the nation.
“The legacies of our party while in government speaks volumes. We can no longer stay by the side and blow our trumpet.
“We have a duty to rescue this country from the clutches of those that want to destroy it. You will also recall that this country has witnessed a negative change since the PDP left government in 2015.
“Let me say that God has given us another opportunity to prove them wrongs in this election period. The PDP has brought out it’s best to you the members of the presidential campaign Council.”
Chairman of the Campaign Council, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, who spoke on behalf of other council members said, “I want to assure you that as a campaign council we have the seriousness, unity that is required. It our duty to campaign, to carry and Publicize the message on how to rescue and restore the hope of Nigerians. It is for Nigerians to vote and for the Almighty to give victory.
“I want to say here, don’t mind the doomsayers, I read every where all those doomsayers saying PDP here, PDP there, but I want to assure you that PDP is a solid Rock and we know that no matter the wind it will not move the Rock.
“So, irrespective of the wind that you see around the rock, it will not move the rock. The rock remains as solid as ever. Please don’t mind the doomsayers.
“We want to assure you that we are campaigning to win. Nothing is acceptable to PDP outside victory for PDP, But this will also require that all of us, we must also work.
“This time there is no sitting in Abuja, everybody will have to work had and carry the message home. PDP is not an Abuja party, you win from your unit, your ward and not by sitting in Abuja. The campaign council will take the message to the unit.
“If we had made mistakes in the past, we cannot wind down the clock, we cannot recall what passed yesterday, but we can move forward in the spirit of oneness, unity and progress.“