A former Deputy National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, Olabode George says the People’s Democratic Party may lose the 2023 presidential election if the grievances of members of the party in Southern Nigeria are not immediately addressed.
George while speaking with journalists in Lagos on Thursday argues that the entire southerners in the party are feeling alienated insisting that the presidential candidate and the national chairman can’t come from the same region.
Recall that Governor of Oyo state Seyi Makinde had on Wednesday said to ensure fairness and South’s inclusiveness in the People’s Democratic Party, the National Chairman of the party must step down.
The Governor stated this while speaking at a Southwest Stakeholders consultative forum held in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.
The PDP has for months been rocked by internal crisis, with a camp loyal to Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, demanding the resignation of the Party’s Chairman to enable a replacement from the south of Nigeria to be appointed.
Governor Seyi Makinde said although the PDP has issues, but the party has the capacity to resolve things, adding that they do not have issues with the party’s candidate.
According to him, we must unify the People’s Democratic Party to unify Nigeria so the National Working Committee must be restructured and the National Chairman should step down so that the PDP in the southwest will feel included.
In his response, the People’s Democratic Party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar gave reason why the party chairman cannot be removed.
He state that the removal of the party’s chairman can only be done according to the constitution of the party.
He said removing the party’s chairman as demanded by some stakeholders of the party is achievable only if it is done under the party’s rules and regulations.
Other party stakeholders who spoke at the event want the leadership of the party to shed their swords and give room for peace to reign.
