The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appears to be at a loss with what to do with its standing rule to give returning governors right of first refusal in the forthcoming governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had last Friday fixed governorship elections in the two states for November 21 and December 5 respectively.
Incidentally, Governors Idris Wada of Kogi State and Hon. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, are first time governors on the platform of PDP and may therefore seek re-election in the forthcoming elections.
Going by the tradition of the party, the two governors ought to have been given automatic ticket to fly the party’s flag in the elections and saved the rigours of going to the primaries.
During the just concluded general elections, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombo State and former Governor Ramalan Yaro of Kaduna State, were given automatic tickets as returning president and governors respectively.
Of all these candidates, only Governor Dankwambo was able to get re-elected.
The candidatures of Wada and Dickson in the forthcoming governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa States are facing strong opposition.
In Kogi State, a group, which called itself, Young Democratic Patriot (YDP) led by one Dare Atoye implored PDP to give Wada a soft landing by not fielding him in the November 21 governorship elections.
“Governor Idris Wada, cannot win the Kogi governorship election, even if it is conducted 100 times. With due respect to Governor Wada, he has tried his best but cannot go beyond his limit.
“After the outcome of the general elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), can no longer live in denial as to why it lost the elections, especially in its stronghold of North-central like Kogi, Benue and Plateau States to be specific.
“As a party, we must come to terms with the prevailing political reality; value the existence of public perception as against the deceptive interest of a few and work very hard without compromising the truth to regain our political stardom by serving the people,” the group said in a statement.
In Bayelsa State, there have been avalanche of defections from PDP, which is the ruling party in the state to the All Progressives Congress (APC) due to Dickson’s style of governance.
Some PDP stakeholders from the state have petitioned the the party’s National working Committee (NWC) against the governor, and are working against his re-election.
In the last general elections, most of governors elected on the platform of APC were card carrying members of PDP.
As a matter of facts, most of them bought and contested party primaries on the platform of PDP before they left for APC and were automatically given the ticket.
PDP had blamed the loss of its traditional states, especially in the North Central on former state governors who insisted that their preferred candidates should be the one to fly the party’s flag in the general elections.
A source at the party’s secretariat revealed that PDP governors are pushing for automatic ticket for Wade and Dickson in accordance with the party’s rule.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had last Friday fixed governorship elections in the two states for November 21 and December 5 respectively.
Incidentally, Governors Idris Wada of Kogi State and Hon. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, are first time governors on the platform of PDP and may therefore seek re-election in the forthcoming elections.
Going by the tradition of the party, the two governors ought to have been given automatic ticket to fly the party’s flag in the elections and saved the rigours of going to the primaries.
During the just concluded general elections, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombo State and former Governor Ramalan Yaro of Kaduna State, were given automatic tickets as returning president and governors respectively.
Of all these candidates, only Governor Dankwambo was able to get re-elected.
The candidatures of Wada and Dickson in the forthcoming governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa States are facing strong opposition.
In Kogi State, a group, which called itself, Young Democratic Patriot (YDP) led by one Dare Atoye implored PDP to give Wada a soft landing by not fielding him in the November 21 governorship elections.
“Governor Idris Wada, cannot win the Kogi governorship election, even if it is conducted 100 times. With due respect to Governor Wada, he has tried his best but cannot go beyond his limit.
“After the outcome of the general elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), can no longer live in denial as to why it lost the elections, especially in its stronghold of North-central like Kogi, Benue and Plateau States to be specific.
“As a party, we must come to terms with the prevailing political reality; value the existence of public perception as against the deceptive interest of a few and work very hard without compromising the truth to regain our political stardom by serving the people,” the group said in a statement.
In Bayelsa State, there have been avalanche of defections from PDP, which is the ruling party in the state to the All Progressives Congress (APC) due to Dickson’s style of governance.
Some PDP stakeholders from the state have petitioned the the party’s National working Committee (NWC) against the governor, and are working against his re-election.
In the last general elections, most of governors elected on the platform of APC were card carrying members of PDP.
As a matter of facts, most of them bought and contested party primaries on the platform of PDP before they left for APC and were automatically given the ticket.
PDP had blamed the loss of its traditional states, especially in the North Central on former state governors who insisted that their preferred candidates should be the one to fly the party’s flag in the general elections.
A source at the party’s secretariat revealed that PDP governors are pushing for automatic ticket for Wade and Dickson in accordance with the party’s rule.
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