Victor EzejaPresidential campaign flag off of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), took place on Monday without the presence of five state governors of the PDP stock and national party officers.
The party’s official flag-off is took place at the Nest of Champions Stadium in Uyo.
The five governors that were conspicuously missing at event were Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, Samuel Ortom of Benue, govenors Seyi Makinde, Okezie Ikpeazu and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Oyo, Abia and Enugu respectively.
Also absent from the rally were PDP Deputy National Chairman South, Taofeek Arapaja, National Woman Leader, Prof. Stella Effah-Attoe, National Vice Chairman South South, Chief Dan Orbih.
Aside the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, his running mate, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa, and PDP National Chairman, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu, other PDP governors present at the campaign launch were chairman of the presidential campaign council and Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Emmanuel Udom, Governors Douye Diri and Godwin Obaseki of Bayelsa and Edo States respectively.
Othe party Chieftains present were former Vice President, Namadi Sambo, ex-Senate Presidents: Bukola Saraki, Anyim Pius Anyim and David Mark, and former PDP chairmen: Prince Uche Secondus, Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo and Alhaji Adamu Muazu and NGF Chairman, Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State.
The five governors absent at the rally had recently pulled out of the presidential campaign team following the party’s refusal to meet their demand for removal of the National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.
Since the party’s national convention/presidential primary, they have been calling for Ayu’s removal with Wike being the arrowhead in the agitation.
He had maintained that the agreement of the party was that if the presidential candidate emerges from the north, the Chairmanship of the party should go to south and vice versa, hence his call for Ayu to resign.
The five governors had last week Sunday October 3, met behind closed-doors in Enugu their next line of action.
Atiku has been making efforts to unite members of the party as they move into the election season.
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Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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