‘No PDP member is above party’ says national leadership

…Dismiss merger talks with others

By Folorunso Alagbede, Abuja

The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has categorically declared that nobody is above the party, even as it (the party) denied being in merger or alliance talks with others.
The PDP equally expressed the firm optimism that its candidate in the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State, Barrister Asue Ighodalo will win the election with wide margin.
The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Hon Debo Ologunagba, who disclosed these yesterday while addressing a press conference in Abuja, confirmed the readiness of the party to discipline any of its erring members.
While responding to a question on whether the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mr Nyeson Wike has been invited to appear before the party’s disciplinary committee, Hon Ologunagba said that although he cannot specifically mention who has been invited, but that the disciplinary committee has been mandated to invite indicted members for questioning, with possible sanction melted, where necessary.
His words,, “What I can tell you is that nobody is above this party. It is the People’s Democratic Party.
“What we have done is to set up bodies (reconciliation and disciplinary committees) and given them the mandate to do the job. We will wait for their reports,” he added
Continuing, he said, “Let me assure all of you, not while we live, will anybody take away the structures of the PDP from us. But let me tell people, I hear some governors who say they will take over the structure and give back to somebody”.
Ologunagba denied any knowledge of merger talks between its 2023 presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el- Rufai and a few others toying with the idea of merging or floating a new political platform.
He said “there is no merger talk with any political party. Two or three political leaders may meet and be talking on personal level. You can’t elevate that to mean merging.
“At the party level, there is process for doing that .But as a party, there is nothing like that”, he stressed.
Speaking on the issue of the PDP candidate in Edo State, Barrister Asue Ighodalo and his chances, Ologunagba said, “The PDP candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo; with his resonating, ‘Prosperity for All Agenda’, is the candidate acceptable across political parties and apolitical citizens of Edo State.
“From all credible indices across the 18 Local Government Areas of Edo State, the PDP candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo is coasting to a sweeping victory with no less that 65 % of the total votes expected at the election.
“Due to the overwhelming popularity and acceptability of our candidate, the PDP campaign in Edo State has become a movement, pulling support across all ages, professions, class, communities, sectional and even political affiliations with key members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State openly and publicly campaigning and declaring support for Dr. Asue Ighodalo daily.
“This situation continues to send shockwaves to the APC and its uninspiring candidate, Monday Okpebholo, who, apparently mindful of his emptiness has refused to engage the people of Edo State, the media and continues to hide behind his lying godfather, Adams Oshiomhole.
“The APC being overwhelmed by the impending crushing defeat has resorted to sinister plots and antics to subvert and derail the September 21, 2024 governorship election having realized that its candidate, Monday Okpebholo is no match to PDP’s erudite Dr. Asue Ighodalo, whose manifesto and vision embody the collective aspiration and Will of the people of Edo State.
“After multiple failures to stop our candidate through the courts, the APC has been exploring ways to derail the electoral process, because it has no prospect whatsoever of winning the election.
“One of such antics was the attempt to manipulate the INEC bio-data process by fraudulently uploading emojis, pictures of foreigners, social media pictures and non-human photos as Polling and Collation Agents with the intent to smuggle in hired thugs to masquerade as Polling Agents and trigger crisis on election day.
“Additionally, the APC has, in connivance with some compromised security operatives, begun to terrorize the people of Edo State by arresting, torturing and detaining them, particularly the youths so as to instill fear in the people and prevent them from exercising their Civic Duty.
“Notable among those arrested, harassed and dehumanized by APC-controlled security operatives include Mr. Kingsley Osahon who was arrested in Uromi, Mr. Odion Bright and Mr. Timothy Isibor who were arrested in Igueben.
“Last Wednesday, August 28, 2024, an attempt was made by the said APC-controlled operatives to arrest Chief Francis Inegbeniki, who recently defected from the APC to the PDP.
“It is clear that the plan of the APC is to infuse fear in Edo State, heighten tension, instigate crisis and subvert the electoral process.
“The PDP calls on the Inspector General of Police to immediately wade in and address the situation.
“We also demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all Edo State citizens arrested by the APC-controlled security operatives in the State.
“In the same vein, the PDP demands an immediate investigation into apprehensions in the public domain that certain APC leaders have reportedly established secret cells in their houses and other locations where they are allegedly training and arming thugs who they intend to unleash on the peace-loving and law-abiding people of Edo State.
“The APC must accept the clear fact that as far as the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State is concerned, Monday Okpebholo has no chance as the preference of the people of Edo State is in Dr. Asue Ighodalo and the PDP.
“The APC should remember that the Edo State people have a rich history of resistance to political leaders who attempt to impose themselves or their lackies on the people as being witnessed in Adams Oshiomhole and the candidature of Monday Okpebholo.
“Therefore, no amount of threats, intimidation or harassment by the APC and its agents can cow or sway the people of Edo State from their resolve to elect Dr. Asue Ighodalo of the PDP as the next governor of the State”, he said.
The PDP therefore charged the people of Edo State to remain steadfast in standing shoulder to shoulder with the
party and it’s candidate, Dr Ighodalo “as we head to victory come September 21, 2024”.