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- Says PDP bouncing back
From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
Zamfara State governor, Dauda Lawal, has said the defection of some governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) to the All Progressives Congress ( APC) would not have any adverse effect on the opposition party.
Lawal, who stated this, in an interview with journalists, on Friday, at the Legacy House, Abuja, after the inauguration of the Accreditation Sub Committee for the PDP National Convention, said the opposition party is not bothered by the defections.
The Zamfara governor recalled that at ahead of the 2015 general election, the PDP had about 29 governors, but that eventually lost the general election.
So far four governors elected on the platform of the PDP, including Sheriff Oborevbori, Umo Eno, Peter Mbah and Diri Douye, of Delta , Akwa Ibom, Enugu and Bayelsa states respectively alongside their supporters have defected from the opposition party.
This is in addition to no fewer than 40 members of the National Assembly elected on the platform of the PDP, who have dumped the opposition party for the APC.
Nonetheless, Lawal, while responding to question on the effect of the defection on the PDP, said “let me say this. The only thing that is constant and permanent is change.
“Let me take you back to history. In 2015, when PDP had over 29 to 30 governors, what happened at the end of the day? I am sure you will be the judge. So, as I said, no shaking, no alarm.”
The Zamfara governor noted that though the PDP has gone through several challenges in recent times, the opposition party is bouncing back. He expressed optimism that the opposition party’s convention slated for November 15 and 16, in Ibadan would be successful.
According to him, “you can see we have got through a lot in the past and now, things are getting better, day by day. I am very sure, very optimistic that we will bounce back. In fact we are already bouncing back.”
Lawal, while reacting to misgivings by some members of the opposition party, in the North West, over the adoption of former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki, as the North’s consensus candidate for PDP National championship, said there was nothing wrong with consensus.
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Northern PDP leaders, including Adamawa governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, Bauchi governor, Bala Mohammed Lawal, the party’s national chairman, Umar Damagum, among others, had on Wednesday night named Turaki as the consensus candidate for the chairmanship seat zoned to the area.
However, a group of stakeholders holders from the North West, has kicked against the choice of the former minister as the consensus chairmanship candidate.
Nevertheless, the Zamfara governor said ,”No matter what we do, some people will still be aggrieved. Even if we bring you, some people say no, you have an issue. It is normal. It is part of politics. What we are doing is try and bring everybody together in the interest of this party.
“In the constitution of our party, there is a provision for consensus. So there is nothing new. It is okay. It is normal. It is part of our constitution in PDP.”
