ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State says the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubarkar, will meet with the G-5 Governors to resolve the contending issues in the party that have lingered within the fold of the party after their presidential primaries.
Governor Okowa also denied the claims that the party had resolved to dump the G-5 Integrity Governors led by Governor Nyesome Wike and forge ahead for the 2023 presidential election.
Okowa stated these on Wednesday in Yenagoa after a meeting of the South-South Governors Forum alongside Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State and the host Governor, Douye Diri.
The Rivers State Governor, Wike, who doubles as the leader of the G-5 Governors, was conspicuously absent.
According to Okowa, the PDP will resolve all issues soon, and will not allow the G-5 Governors to leave the party.
Okowa said: “The claim that the Party will dump the G-5 Governors is definitely not true. They are part of our family and I believe there are issues and these issues are being attended to.
“Very soon the Presidential Candidate will meet the Governors. They are part of the family and we are not going to allow them go. Obviously, there are many things being put in place to reconcile all sides and move together as one.”
Earlier, Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State told newsmen that the Governors’ visit was to empathize with their Bayelsa State counterpart, Governor Diri, on the recent flood disaster in the state.
The Edo Governor also noted that the meeting was to find out the progress of the presidential campaigns from Okowa and restate their total support for the party’s presidential and vice presidential candidates.
He said: “We are here to assure them that we are with them and to give them all the supports needed which may also include reaching out to our other brothers in the zone in order to resolve any differences that we have so as to move into the next year election as one strong united zone and party.”
Speaking also, Diri commended the South-South Governors for displaying a high sense of unity and togetherness during crises such as the recent flood disaster that ravaged the state.
On the PDP issue, Diri maintained that the South-South Governors remain united despite the noticeable dispute, he however assured that it will be resolved soon.
“We are one. In a family, there are always disputes. But the dispute will not separate us. We will resolve those dispute and continue to put on as one.
“South-South is a PDP region and South-South is a place no other party can contend. I assure you that the PDP will triumph at all levels in the next elections,” he said.