UPDATE | Leadership crisis: Fayose, Wike will not defect over court case —PDP governors
PDP governors from left, Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Ayo Fayose (Ekiti), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe) and Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), at the meeting.
PDP governors from left, Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Ayo Fayose (Ekiti), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe) and Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), at the meeting.
•Say Wherever PDP goes, we go
THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum has resolved that its members would remain with the party irrespective of any outcome of the impending Supreme Court judgment on the lingering leadership crisis.
The apex court has reserved ruling on the matter between the National Caretaker Committee (NCC) led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi and the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party led by Senator Ali Sheriff.
The Chairman of the forum, Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State and his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike, had threatened to dump the party which brought them into office if the judgment goes against the NCC.
But emerging from a nearly three-hour long meeting in Abuja on Thursday night, they resolved that the governors elected under the party would stay together no matter what happens at the Supreme Court.
Speaking to newsmen after the meeting, Fayose who was flanked by his colleagues, assured that statements they may have made in the past, were personal to them as the party was supreme to individual governors.
Asked whether himself and Wike had changed their mindsober the threat to defect, he replied: “You see, what’s important is that as individuals, we are still loyal to this party.
“Whatever statement, whatever position we have taken before this meeting is still our personal decision, personal statement.
“But look at all the governors standing here, wherever the party goes, we go.”
While insisting that the governors would remain with the party till the end, he was confident that the future of the PDP was bright and was poised to win the 2019 general elections, saying: “Like I said, the party is more important than all of us and we believe in this party.
“We believe the tomorrow of this party will be great and we are going to stand by this party till the end.”
On the perception of the the Sheriff-led NWC at the meeting, the PDP Governors Forum chairman reiterated that the party was not about individuals adding: “You see, this party is beyond everybody, whether Sheriff, Makarfi or Fayose.”
Fayose said Thursday night’s meeting was to deliberate on matters of interest to the PDP and to reassure the party members that efforts were being made to move the party forward.
He explained: “This is our usual PDP Governors Forum meeting and deliberating on issues of interest and concern to our party.
“Our members are looking out for and to hear progress being made in the party. And we are pleased that our party, despite our challenges is forging ahead.
“We are putting our best and we are hopeful all will end well with the party and our members.
“Today, the party met to further reaffirm our confidence in the PDP, believing that the PDP stays and stands united to win elections in 2019.
“We are hopeful that the outcome of the court will further unite the party. There will be no winner, there will be no vanquished.
“We believe in the PDP and we believe in the tomorrow of this party.
“That is the essence of our deliberation and we believe that we will come out stronger than ever before.”
The meeting which which took place at Ekiti Lodge, Asokoro had in attendance Governors Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom ), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta) and Ebitemi Banigo (Deputy Governor, Rivers).
Also present are Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Leo Ogor; former Abia state governor, Senator Theophilus Orji; former ministers, Prof. Jerry Gana, Zainab Maina and Inna Ciroma.