Edo, Ondo Polls: PDP Governors Charge Buhari, INEC, Security Agencies To Be Impartial
BY AMOS DUNIA, ABUJA – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum rose from its virtual meeting on August 1, 2020, with a call on President Muhammadu Buhari, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to play an impartial role in the elections in Edo and Ondo States.
This is as it urged PDP supporters to stay vigilant and ensure that all votes are counted and all votes count.
The meeting which was presided over by the Chairman, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, resolved to set up two Committees of the Forum namely the Legislative Liaison Committee and Legal Affairs Committee.
Legislative Liaison Committee according to the Forum, is expected to liaise with both the national and state legislatures on legislative matters as well as guide the governors on pending Bills, including the Electoral Act Amendment and Constitution Review matters as it affects the Forum.
On the other hand, the Legal Affairs Committee is expected to identify and coordinate legal matters affecting the Forum as well as to guide it on local government, inter-state and federal government relations.
The Legal Committee is also expected to explore various infractions of the Constitution by the Federal Government including the arbitrary and illegal deductions from the Federation Account.
These were contained in a communique issued at the end of the meeting of the PDP Governors in which it encouraged all Nigerians to continue various efforts to contain the COVID-19 disease; and, lend support to the cooperative efforts between the States and Federal governments in the federation in the fight against the pandemic and in reopening of schools in a safe and responsible manner.
The Forum also formally welcome Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State and congratulated him on his emergence as the leader of the PDP in the State and the party’s candidate in the scheduled September 19, 2020 gubernatorial election.
The PDP Governors’ Forum further resolved to lend its complete and total support to the PDP in Edo State in order for it to emerge victorious in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
It also congratulated Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, on his emergence as the flag bearer of PDP in the forthcoming October gubernatorial election in Ondo State and resolved to support him and the party to recover Ondo State for the PDP in the election.
The Forum further reviewed the various PDP Congresses in all States of the federation and resolved to continue to support the party at all levels to enthrone internal democracy and consequently good governance in not only the PDP controlled states but in all the States of the federation.
The Forum resolved to thank the National Chairman and members of the National Working Committee of the PDP in the way and manner they conducted primary elections in Edo and Ondo States and the generally rancor free congresses in many states of the federation.
It urged the party to continue to deploy conflict resolution mechanisms to resolve any disputes.
The meeting was attended by Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal – Chairman – Sokoto, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu – Vice Chairman – Abia, Gov. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri – Adamawa, Sen. Bala Mohammed – Bauchi, Prof (Sen.) Ayade Benedict – Cross River and Sen. (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State.
Others include Engr. David Umahi – Ebonyi, who was represented by his Deputy Governor – Barr. Eric Kelechi Igwe, Gov. Godwin Obaseki – Edo, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi – Enugu, Gov. Seyi Makinde – Oyo, Gov. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike – Rivers and Hon. Bello Mattawale Maradun – Zamfara
