Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) met yesterday in Enugu to deliberate on the Saturday’s governorship election in Anambra State, the 2019 polls and election of national officers.
The Guardian gathered that the meeting became necessary following alleged divisions in the party over its national convention where the officers would emerge, as well as the presidential election in which one of them, Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, has declared interest.
Another source claimed that the plan by the party to challenge the incumbent administration in 2019 is being threatened by what was described as worrisome sound beats from some of its members.
Essentially, PDP is worried that while it is working to ensure the emergence of a candidate that could challenge President Muhammadu Buhari, some of its members are openly announcing support for him.
At the weekend, however, campaign posters of the former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, announcing his intention to vie in the 2019 presidential election flooded Enugu State.
“The meeting therefore is to take a resolute stand on some of these issues, because whether you like it or not, some of the positions being taken by the governors are disturbing. Ebonyi State governor has openly canvassed support for Buhari. So there is need for them to be on the same page if they must snatch power from the incumbent administration,” the source said
On the Anambra election, he said the meeting would be briefed on the efforts so far by some of the governors who are members of the committee set up by the PDP to ensure the party wins.
Those in attendance include members of the National Caretaker Committee led by Ahmed Makarfi, PDP national chairmanship aspirants, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and Raymond Dokpesi, Uche Secondus and Rashidi Ladoja.
Also in attendance are Governors Fayose (Ekiti), Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Ben Ayade (Cross River), Emmanuel Udom (Akwa Ibom), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Darius Ishiaku (Taraba), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe) and Ebonyi Deputy Governor Kelechi Igwe.
