Ekiti 2022: PDP youths seek amicable resolution to crisis

Ahead of the January 26 governorship primaries of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, youths in the party have advised aspirants and other stakeholders to sheathe their sword and embrace peace for the party to win the June 18 governorship poll.

In recent times, the party which had been enmeshed in deep crisis in the last two years witnessed a series of protests and agitations over the alleged hijacked of the ad hoc ward delegates congress aimed at electing three delegates in each of the 177 wards for the governorship primary.

The youths under the auspices of Victory Advocates of Nigeria (VAN) said there was a need for the aspirants and the tendencies to close ranks and shelve their personal interests in the “overall interest of the suffering residents of the state who were looking up to the opposition party.”

The national president of VAN, Seyi Ajibola who spoke during an event of the group tagged ‘Ekiti Peace and Unity Summit’ in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital at the weekend said the youths were interested in the unity of the party and would do everything possible to ensure peace.

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A former PDP presidential campaign spokesman, Segun Showunmi; a former director of media of the party in Ondo state, Zadok Akintoye; the former chairman of the state PDP, Chief Bola Olu-Oju and other leaders spoke and were honoured at the summit.

The leader of the youth group said no single individual could secure victory for the party except the gladiators come and work together regardless of the party’s candidate.

On the expectations of the group from Wednesday’s primary, he revealed that only credible, popular and acceptable candidates would galvanize the members and citizens towards victory at the poll.

He maintained that the group would intensify efforts in the enlightenment of youths and the citizens ahead of the poll, disclosing that they are not been sponsored by any politicians but through individual members contributions.

He said, ” We have a lot of compounded issues in Ekiti PDP that if care is not taken, mar our chances irrespective of the candidates put forward. We must manage our internal crisis beyond party politics and shelve selfish interests.

“We believe in Unity of purpose and togetherness and we believe as youths, we can bring them together instead of following them and be used as thugs. We have a lot to bring in terms of ideas.”

On the current crisis and disagreement among the leaders ahead of the poll, Ajibola said, “we can’t say they are having a disagreement or not on the same page, they might have little issues and we youth doesn’t join issues with them. They should settle their differences in the interest of the party.”

Speaking on the type of candidate the party should put forward, the youth leader noted that “we want a candidate that can project the image and win for the party and let me quickly say that all the aspirants are capable and whoever the part put forward, we will support him.

“But we want the leaders to bring themselves together, they should not allow the intra-party crisis to mar the chances of the party during the June 18 governorship poll.”