Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan was conspicuously absent at the Peoples Democratic Party’s South-South zonal Congress held in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital on Saturday.
While many dignitaries, including current and former governors were present at the occasion, the former President was not at the event that gathered a large crowd at the Obi Wali International Civic Centre in Port Harcourt.
Though no reason was given by the party for Jonathan’s absence, the development may not be unconnected to the misunderstanding between some elders and younger politicians in the PDP.
Speaking during the occasion, Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, vowed that the PDP would win the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State and retain the South-South zone as the stronghold of the party.
He also declared that governors and leaders of the party would do everything legally to ensure that the party retains the zone.
Wike stressed that the governors would provide the required support for the PDP members in Edo State to ensure the party won the governorship election in September.
The governor spoke on behalf of the PDP governors in the South-South zone.
He said, “The South-South governors will make sure that PDP retains the zone. All the governors in the zone will work as a family. We shall give all necessary support to our party members in Edo State for the party to reclaim the state in September.”
The governor pointed out that the national convention of the party would be successfully held on May 21 in Port Harcourt.
Wike added, “The ranting of deflated politicians on sponsored television programmes would serve no purpose. The PDP governors and leaders of the zone support the national convention, which will hold successfully on May 21 (2016).”
He said those issuing press statements on the forthcoming convention were only struggling to be relevant because they knew the strength of the party ahead of the next elections.
The governor explained that the South-South PDP governors had all proved to be high-class performers, having delivered on the developmental programmes of the party.
Earlier, the new National Vice-Chairman of the PDP, South-South Zone, Emmanuel Ogiri, expressed confidence that the PDP would win the presidency in 2019.
Ogiri, however, stated that the disagreement between elders in the PDP and some members of the party would be resolved before the May 21 national convention of the party.
In his remarks, the Senate Minority Leader and former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to conclude the rerun elections in Rivers and other states.
He added that the South-South PDP National Assembly members worked hard to ensure that the Calabar-Lagos rail line was included in the 2016 budget.
Akpabio said Nigerians were now yearning for the PDP to return to power because they had discovered that the party served them faithfully.
The six states in region successfully elected new officers of the PDP in the zone. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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