PDP Members Not worried Despite Losing Governors to Defections

Makinde says PDP members are not worried despite losing governors to defections.
Party now left with only Makinde and Bala Mohammed as governors.
PDP leaders say party must rebuild following recent political challenges.

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has said members of the Peoples Democratic Party are not worried despite the party now having only two governors following a wave of defections to the All Progressives Congress.

Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, had on Monday announced his resignation from the PDP, leaving Makinde and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, as the remaining governors elected on the party’s platform.

Makinde spoke on Tuesday during the expanded meeting of the Board of Trustees of the PDP held in Abuja.

He described the current situation in the party as a difficult period for PDP leaders, members and Nigeria’s democracy.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the governor, however, dismissed speculations about further defections and expressed confidence that the current crisis within the party would eventually pass.

Makinde said that when the history of the present political developments in the country is written, members of the PDP would be remembered for standing with the Nigerian people.

“I have been speaking with people who have been involved in the political evolution of this country. And none of them have seen a political landscape like what we are witnessing today. I can only say, we are only two remaining, but we are not bothered.

“When the story of this period is told, when the story of democracy in Nigeria is told, they will find us on the side of the people. So please, I can only say that this period will also go away. It will pass away.

“So whatever role we want to play as individuals and collectively as a party, we must be conscious of what history is going to record against or for us for this period,” he said.

Also speaking at the meeting, former Senate President and Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Adolphus Wabara, said the party must find solutions to the challenges confronting it.

He added that the Board considers the recent Court of Appeal judgment affecting the party as an opportunity for a fresh start.

“An order for the party to begin again. We are more, we respect the law. So this is an opportunity for us to begin again. And that’s why we are all here,” he said. Wabara explained that the meeting was convened to take serious decisions on the future of the party.

“The meeting was not for speech making, but a day we have to be very serious with the decisions we are going to arrive at, as we’ve always done with the Board, we obey the Constitution. We must work in accordance with the Constitution. And you can never go wrong if you abide by the Constitution and the rule of law.

“We should be very brief with our thoughts. Once we get the briefing of this expanded process meeting, the Board will meet to take its decision,” he added.