Massive turnout for PDP registration in Kwara exites Gbemi Saraki, Dara

From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

Former gubernatorial candidate of Allied Congress Party of Nigeria( ACPN) in 2011, Senator Rukayyat Gbemisola Saraki and former governorship aspirant of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Mr John Dara have commended the large turn out of people for the on going registration of PDP in the state.

They disclosed that over 400,000 party cards have been exhausted during the exercise while some members of APC in the state are joining the party.

Speaking with journalists after her registration at Ajikobi ward,Ilorin on Wednesday, Senator Gbemisola Saraki said the massive turn out of people showed that the state is a PDP state.

“We give praise to Almighty Allah. We should not relent. It is not over. We should be ready to see the light. We should remain steadfast. We should continue to be peaceful because a wounded lion is an angry lion. We are not wounded. We know where we are. We should be peaceful, focused and close ranks.

“ PDP Kwara has shown that from every point in time; from when the President came that by our action and not by words, that we are solidly on ground,” she said.

In his remarks after registering at Ipee ward, Oyun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Mr. John Dara said “It seems to me that the people of Kwara state have been waiting for this moment to express their determination to embrace freedom, democracy and rapid development. That has resulted in tumultuous turn out not only in my local government but the entire state.

“When we started out, we issued 200,000 cards through the state. Within the first two days, it was exhausted and party officials brought another 300,000 cards. We and the national leadership of PDP decided that we will make cards freely available for every willing member of the party.

“ We believe that we may not exhaust the 500,000 cards immediately. We decided that wherever each of the wards stopped, on Thursday, we will ask them to hand in their registers for the purpose of authentication. We would then use it for ward congresses on Saturday. We believe that by the end of this exercise, we would have registered well over 400,000 members.”