PDP Eyes Consensus Candidate For 2023 Presidency
- Plans nationwide consultations
- Intervenes on Wike, Dickson rift
- Tasks Committee on Bayelsa, Kogi guber polls
BY SEGUN ADEBAYO – Determined to successfully woo Nigerians and make the desired impact ahead of the 2023 general elections, opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is considering a consensus presidential candidate for the party.
The Party is also working hard to strengthen its conflict resolution mechanism for the reconciliation of its members nationwide.
And the main opposition Party strongly believes an all-inclusive engagement and consultations among its teeming members and stakeholders across the country is the panacea for achieving its set goals
Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BOT), Senator Walid Jibril, who dropped the hints in Kaduna, said the proposed nationwide consultations will be deployed to reconcile all aggrieved members as part of efforts to ensure inclusiveness, cohesiveness and a united front that will effectively re-position the Party for the onerous task of reclaiming power at the centre come 2023.
Speaking at a media conference, Senator Jibril said no efforts will be spared in taking out the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from office through the ballot box.
He said members with presidential ambitions are free to exercise their right as the PDP will not gag or impose any candidate on its members, but noted that it would be better and in the overall interest of the Party for members to agree on a consensus candidate and work hard to make the party stronger and unbeatable in 2023.
The BoT Chairman, who avoided mentioning which zone is likely to produce the consensus candidate, said the BOT considers it a more plausible option for PDP members to agree on a consensus candidate before the 2023 elections.
According to him: “On the presidential candidate, the National Working Committee (NWC), in consultation with all relevant organs will reveal the plan soon. I don’t think there is anything wrong if anybody from any zone showed interest, but our collective decision will bring out an agreeable candidate.
“What is right now before us is for us to work hard to unite the party by making it strong and unbeatable in the next presidential election.
On the crisis rocking the Party in some states of the Federation, Jibril said; “We have also directed the BOT committee on peace and conflicts resolution to visit Edo, Kano, Lagos, Osun, Bayelsa and other states where there are acrimonies to make peace.”
Senator Jibril also spoke on efforts being made by the PDP to resolve the current rift between Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and his Bayelsa State counterpart, Governor Seriake Dickson.
“The BOT is already making necessary arrangements to end the crisis between Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike and the Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, and of course, among all party members in order to take over government from the ruling party in 2023.
“The disunity among our PDP governors demands this urgent intervention by the party. The highest advisory body, the BOT, is ready to remain neutral all the time.
“I enjoin all members of our great party to stay away from hate speech and avoid abusive language among us and even among non-members.
“All we need now is consultations and dialogue in solving our problems and not dismissal or suspension. Reconciliations should continue in the units, wards, Local government areas, states and national levels.”
He said the BOT has already raised a committee charged with finding out reasons behind losses suffered by the party in Bayelsa and Kogi States’ governorship polls.
The BoT Chairman said the Committee is expected to unravel issues surrounding the Party’s poor showing and disastrous electoral outings both states against the backdrop of scathing accusations that some high profiled PDP members betrayed the party.
One of such allegations came from Governor Wike who has accused Countryman Governor Dickson of playing a key role in the electoral defeat suffered by PDP in the South South state of Bayelsa.
