PDP lost elections to enemies within – George, others

Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party in the South-West have asked the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, and other members of the National Working Committee to resign. Their call, they say, is informed by the defeat of the PDP in the last general elections, especially the presidential poll. Rising from a closed-door meeting on Friday in Ado Ekiti, the South-West PDP Presidential Contact and Mobilisation Committee, in a communique read by Chief Olabode George, vowed to resist any attempt to impeach the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, for his loyalty to the party. The zone commended President Goodluck Jonathan for conceding defeat despite the noticeable flaws in the presidential poll, saying this had allowed Nigeria to remain united and prevent unwarranted crisis. The communiqué said, “The APC(All Progressives Congress)orchestrated violence, blackmail and political attacks on elected PDP Governors and other officials; pose a threat to the peace of the region’’, warning that such would not be tolerated under any guise. The party urged defected members to return and rebuild the party, since the APC had boldly declared that there was no space for them in the party. It also commended Fayose for resisting intimidation and remaining dogged in the battle against impeachment by the APC, encouraging him and the Ondo Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, to continue to work together. It expressed its support for serious overhaul of the party’s structure at the national level. George said, “People like President Jonathan is very rear to come by. He accepted a flawed election for Nigeria to stand united. Can those who had not been sworn in and have started threatening to impeach a PDP governor do this? “PDP lost the elections because of unresolved issues and due to the handiwork of enemies within coupled with the conspiracy from INEC leader, who wisely made Nigerians to have the impression that the election was free and fair when it was not. “As at the time Prof Jega said he was ready for elections, about 2.1 million PVCs were yet to get to Lagos State and likewise Ogun. If you check the election, there was no cancellation of results and voided votes in the North. “In spite of all these, the President said it should be allowed to stay. The conspiracy was too obvious against our party, but President Jonathan showed civility. This was quite commendable.” Fayose and Mimiko, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr Kola Ademujimi, appealed to the President–elect Muhammadu Buhari to believe in a new Nigeria, where people could easily express themselves and pursue their political aspirations without impediment. Speaking on his impeachment travail, Fayose said, “I am a member of the PDP and nobody can harass me because of my political belief. “For APC to be harassing me because I am a member of PDP and for them to ban (bar) AIT from covering the activities of the president-elect give a reminder of a slide to dictatorship. “They were in opposition and they effectively stood up to us that time, so they should expect same now. Nigeria will progress if the APC can respect the rights of every Nigerian.” On his part, Mimiko boasted that the PDP was only embarking on a four-year holiday, promising that the party would recapture power in 2019. Leaders at the meeting included a former National Vice Chairman, South-West, Chief Tajudeen Oladipo; Senator Bode Olajumoke, Segun Adegoke, Chief Lekan Balogun, PDP governorship candidate in Ogun State in the last election, Mr. Gboyega Isiaka; an ex-envoy, Amb. Toye Olofintuyi; ex-PDP Chairman in Ekiti, Chief Bola Olu-Ojo, Senator Femi Kila and a Senator-elect, Mr. Duro Faseyi.