- ADC to sign MoU with 68 parties this week
- Atiku now PDP govs’ choice – Aide
Ongoing coalition talks among the Peoples Democratic Party, the African Democratic Congress and about 23 other political parties and groups, may go on for a little longer, following a deadlock reportedly reached over which platform to adopt by the parties for the 2019 general elections.
A source close to the coalition circles disclosed to our correspondent that a logjam had been created through the inability of both the PDP and the ADC to reach a compromise on which platform to use for the assemblage of political parties and groups.
The source, who would not want his name mentioned, owing to the sensitivity of the issue, said while the PDP insisted that its platform should be adopted to field a common candidate, the ADC differed, saying that the former’s name would not make the coalition fly as would be expected.
The source said, “We’ve met at least five times now, but the major problem we are having is the ADC wanting its platform to be used as flagship for the coalition; their contention is that the name PDP has been smeared by series of corruption allegations against many chieftains of the party.
“But the PDP would not have any of that, as they too insisted that the ADC was still young and might not fly in many remote parts of the country. As a result, the PDP wanted the coalition to come on the PDP platform and reach a signed agreement on working terms.”
The PDP recently set up a committee charged with opening up talks with other political parties and groups, with a view to forming a grand alliance against the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The 22-member committee, known as the Contact and Integration Committee, is headed by a former Governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke.
However, the National Publicity Secretary, PDP, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, might have tacitly hinted of his party’s insistence on its name as identity for the coalition, when he told our correspondent that “PDP will not hesitate to have ADC under its umbrella to move against the ruling party.”
Speaking at the weekend, Ologbondiyan also said, “I don’t have the details of the talk currently, because the committee hasn’t got back to us. But we are ready to parley with ADC in the coming elections to reposition the country from the hell APC has put it into.”
Reacting too, spokesman to the CNM, Obasanjo’s group, which has already coalesced into the ADC, Mr. Akin Osuntokun, said the ADC was already in synergy with the PDP, ahead of the 2019 elections.
“Of course, there is synergy between the two parties but I cannot confirm to you the platform they have agreed to use,” he said.
However, it was reliably gathered that while members of coalition talks across the parties had resolved in principle to cede the presidential ticket to the PDP, the position of a presidential running mate might have been left for Obasanjo to decide upon.
An ADC chieftain, who preferred anonymity, told our correspondent that the parties were taking their time to ensure that no side was marginalised, once victory had been achieved.
The source explained, “We want our agreements on position-sharing to be firm because we know that, as they say, alliance breaks once the common enemy is defeated.
“We all know what is happening in the APC with the way the new Peoples Democratic Party members, who formed an alliance with them, are now being treated. So, in our case, we want to be proactive, to avert a recurrence.”
ADC TO SIGN MOU WITH 68 PARTIES THIS WEEK
However, as talks continue, to ensure the end of the APC administration in 2019, fresh facts indicate that the African Democratic Congress may have stepped up its coalition talks to achieve concrete wins.
An impeccable source informed our correspondent that the party would, on Wednesday, sign a Memorandum of Understanding with 68 political parties as a major step towards a win in the 2019 presidential election.
“You will soon start seeing the moves that will make you understand that we are not joking here. Next week, may be Wednesday, I can confirm to you that, ceteris paribus, our party, ADC, will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with 68 political parties on a formidable coalition. You will also hear about major defections that will shake the politics of Nigeria,” he said.
PDP GOVS ENDORSE ATIKU – SOURCE
Meanwhile, the PDP Governors Forum may have finally endorsed the presidential candidature of Atiku, as a way of approaching ongoing coalition talks with one voice.
The Assistant National Coordinator of Yes for Atiku, an-Atiku campaign organisation, Mr. Olumide Ogunkua, hinted our correspondent in Akure, Ondo State, at the weekend.
Ogunkua said the governors had backed down from their initial resolve to support the Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo, who is currently in the race to pick the PDP presidential ticket.
He explained, “No doubt, Dankwambo is a dedicated member of the APC, who is young and full of energy. But the governors considered a factor, which is that, once he is picked as PDP presidential candidate, the powers-that-be will start hunting down his government officials under frivolous accusations of corruption, using their anti-graft agencies.
“Besides, the governors felt that at the national level, only Atiku could effectively tackle Buhari, relying on his nationwide structures and seamless goodwill, having been an employer of labour, touching on people from all states of the Federation.
“Then, finally, the governors had weighed Atiku, and found that he is one presidential aspirant, who is not having any corruption charge against him in any court of law and so, he comes with a clean bill of health.”
We’ve met at least five times now, but the major problem we are having is the ADC wanting its platform to be used as flagship for the coalition… But the PDP would not have any of that, as they too insisted that the ADC is still young
Ogunkua, Atiku’s aide, added that the 11 PDP governors once met in Abuja at the Rivers State Governors’ Lodge, where they enjoined Dankwambo to step down for Atiku.
He added that a similar scenario played out when the governors also met in Gombe, when Dankwambo played host to them.
“Besides, when Atiku came to Ado-Ekiti to campaign for the PDP governorship candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola-Eleka, I overheard Governor Ayo Fayose telling our principal, ‘Sir, if you can help to make my candidate win, I too will do all within my powers to help you become our candidate.’ Fayose is the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum.
But in his reaction, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Dankwambo on Press Affairs, Mr. Junaidu Usman, said he was not aware of any overture to his boss to step down for Atiku.
Insisting that Dankwambo was still in the presidential race, Usman said, “In deciding who is competent and qualified to govern our dear country, Nigeria, I know that achievements and track record will be major considerations.
“People should come to Gombe and see the several achievements of Governor Dankwambo, how he has transformed the state to a prosperous community of people with all the amenities that they need.”
While responding to the question on whether the governors had lined behind Atiku or not, Ologbondiyan replied, “I am not aware if any formation or group within the party has agreed to any candidate.
“What I know is that, under the leadership of the party’s National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, delegates are now on a level-playing field where the aspirants will ask for their votes at the National Convention.
“Ours is a democratic party; it is not a solemn movement like the other party. We have our hands off. The process is going to be democratic.”
