President Goodluck Jonathan Jonathan Meets PDP Stakeholders, Governors on Ward Congresses
Jaiyeola Andrews in Abuja
President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday held a series of closed-door
meetings with some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),
presumably on how to resolve the disaffections arising from last
Saturday’s ward congresses across the states.
The disaffection, THISDAY checks revealed, was currently creating divisions within the ruling party.
Stakeholders of the party from Enugu State met Jonathan in one of the
series of the meetings at which the national chairman of the party,
Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, was also present.
The state Governor, Sullivan Chime; Deputy President of the Senate, Ike
Ekweremadu, and former President of the Senate, Ken Nnamani, were all
at the meeting.
Though those who attended the meeting refused to divulge what
transpired to State House correspondents, checks however indicated that
the last Saturday’s ward congresses that generated controversies formed
the fulcrum of the meeting.
Jonathan had equally held a meeting with some PDP’s senators at the Presidential Villa.
A source close to the meeting who pleaded anonymity, told THISDAY that
the impasse between the senators and their state governors running for
senatorial seats was discussed.
Also said to have been discussed, was the alleged imposition of
delegates by some governors, a situation their representatives at the
senate were not comfortable with as it threatens their chances to return
to the Senate in 2015.
Journalists were not allowed to cover the meeting, which was said to be strictly private.
Jonathan equally met with Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State, who
told State House correspondents that the visit was private.
Also, Jonathan met with the chairman of the PDP’s Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Anthony Anenih.
Meanwhile, Governor Goodswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State yesterday said
governors aspiring to be elected into the Senate in 2015 posed no
threat to senators seeking re-election.
He said this in Abuja while speaking with journalists after submitting
his nomination and Expression of Interest forms to contest for the Akwa
Ibom North West senatorial district election in 2015.
Akpabio, who is also the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, said the
political space was wide and open for healthy competition among all
players.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), he said there were only
nine serving governors seeking the senatorial seat in 2015 against 109
senate seats available in the upper legislative arm.
Akpabio, who wants to replace Senator Aloysius Etok, however, said he
would love to have about 75 per cent of senators returned to the senate.
This, he said, would ensure a robust legislation for the country as the
exposure of such senators would perfect legislative duties.
He, however, added that serving senators had 100 per cent chance to
return to the senate, stressing that there was no significant threat in
the political transition.
Akpabio added that whatever dissenting voice that was being heard at
the moment would be silenced by the PDP internal resolution mechanism,
saying it was a party affairs.
“The senate has about 109 members and PDP serving governors interested
in going to the senate are not up to nine, so you still have at least
100 chances for incumbent senators.
“And if it is possible for us to return more than 75 percent of our
senators in the National Assembly, it would help a lot in legislation
and deepen democracy,’’ Akpabio said.
He added that there was no threat to any senator where the governors of
PDP nurtured interest in going to the National Assembly.
“In the sky there is enough space for all birds to fly. Politics is
about the people, and the people`s choice should be allowed to
prevail,’’ he said.
He said whatever was happening now between the senate and the party or
the presidency remained the party’s internal affair and would be
resolved as a family.
Akpabio, however, said he was seeking election to the senate because his constituents prompted him, based on his performance.
According to him, the people believe he still has a lot to offer and can better their lives in the senate.
“This is an answer to the yearning of my people who assessed my tenure
in the last seven and half years and concluded that I still have a lot
to offer.
“My representation of the district in the senate will enhance their living standard and improve their economic status.
“That is why I have accepted the call by my people and I have filled
the necessary papers and I have submitted and I am prepared to represent
the PDP as a distinguished senator come 2015,” the governor said
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