BY LINUS CHIBIKE, ABUJA
A group within the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party has asked stakeholders across the 36 states of the Federation, including the Federal Capital Territory, to rescue the party from the stranglehold of Governors elected on its platform.
The group, under the auspices of the Northern Youth Solidarity Forum, said it was important to get things right, especially in view of the current issue of zoning, ahead of the October 30 to 31, 2021 elective national convention of the party.
The PDP members made this declaration in a statement by Abdulkadir Dantata, in Maiduguri, Borno State.
According to the group, the PDP may be heading for danger if nothing is done to discourage its continuous control by the governors.
Dantata said, “We are very worried about the overbearing position of PDP governors in all the affairs of the party. We cannot forget in a hurry how the governors forced the former Governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff on the party in 2016 and how the same Sheriff collaborated with the All Progressives Congress (APC) and suffered the party in a long period of legal battles.
“Thanks to the Supreme Court that saved the party in that landmark judgment, otherwise, that would have been the end of the PDP.”
He added that in 2017, the PDP governors again came up with the theory of “unity list”, which he said produced the Uche Secondus-led current National Working Committee, against the will of the people.
The group stated, “We have not also forgotten what played out at the Eagle Square in December 2017 that led to the emergence of Prince Uche Secondus as the party’s National Chairman against the popular will of party members and supporters.
“We must rise up and challenge this situation now, as 13 governors of the party cannot be greater than 24. Party members in the 24 states of the federation that have no governors should come out with a strong position on zoning. The southwest and northeast should not be allowed to suffer on account of the decision of PDP governors.”
The Forum therefore called on all members of the National Executive Committee of the party to take control of the situation, while urging NEC members to be courageous, strong and forceful.
“If the zoning committee recommendation of zoning the Chairmanship position to the north is not reversed, the PDP has no hope of winning the 2023 presidential election,” it declared.
