The efforts of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State at reconciling aggrieved governorship aspirants seem to be paying off as 15 of them have agreed to work with the party’s candidate for the 2015 gubernatorial election, Chief Nyesom Wike.
However, one of the aspirants, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia pleaded ignorance of any reconciliation saying, “I am not aware. I am out of the country. Some may have . Its politics. Interests and perspectives change. As I said in my recent TV interview, Wike is the PDP flag bearer, subject to the outcome of my legal challenge in court as to his eligibility and the process by which he emerged”.
This is as Wike has disclosed that the party would unveil a female as his running mate on Tuesday, THISDAY Newspaper reports.
The aspirants that have reconciled with Wike at a meeting held at Le Meridien Hotel, Port Harcourt on Christmas day include Professor Don Baridon, Mr. Ben Dimpka, Professor Israel Owate, Mr Siha Ofonyi, Mr Richard Victor, Mr. Bekinbo Dagogo-Jack, Mr. Nimi Wilson-Jack, B.D Esale and Mr. Dennis Oseleye Ojuta. He had earlier signed a similar agreement with six others.
The reconciliation took place in the presence of the Rivers State PDP Chairman, Felix Obuah; Minister of Sports, Dr Tammy Danagogo; and Senator George Sekibo. The leaders signed the communiqué alongside the governorship candidate and the nine aspirants.
This brings the number of aspirants who have resolved to work for the PDP to 15 out of the 24 who bought forms and were cleared to contest the December 8 PDP governorship primary in Rivers State.
Tagged the “PDP Rivers State Communiqué on reconciliation”, the signed agreement resolved that the said governorship aspirants and their supporters will remain in the PDP, work for the success of President Goodluck Jonathan, Wike and other PDP candidates in 2015.
According to the communiqué, “Aspirants shall henceforth work together and collapse/integrate their campaign organisations along with all political associates and supporters into the sole campaign organisation formed by the state PDP chapter for the purpose of driving the electoral process and ensuring victory of all PDP candidates/flag bearers at the 2015 general elections in the state.
The aspirants agreed to work for a landslide victory of President Jonathan and Wike during the 2015 general elections in Rivers State.
The meeting resolved that the political associates and campaign officials from the various governorship aspirants to be integrated into the campaign organisation of Wike and shall be duly accommodated in the political structure, given due recognition and relevance and not made to suffer victimisation.
Meanwhile, Wike has said the PDP would field a female deputy governorship candidate for 2015
He made the announcement at Omagwa, Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state on Christmas Day where he celebrated the Christian festival with the people of the area.
He said that the female deputy governorship candidate would be unveiled by the party on Tuesday next week.
He said: “We are getting women involved in decision making of the state. The campaign is now for women to take to the next level. We have gone beyond the stage of just sharing wrapper to women as empowerment. This is a new era in Rivers State.
“The fate of Rivers people does not lie in the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC). We are for the PDP all the way”.
He urged the people to remain vigilant as the APC was sewing fake police uniforms in an attempt to rig the 2015 election.
Wike charged the people to resist any attempt to compromise the electoral process by the APC.
