Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the Governor of Edo State, has called on all members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State to unify in order to overcome the internal wranglings within the party and secure victory in the 2023 general elections.
The governor made the announcement while meeting with around 135 PDP members from the party’s National Executive Committee, State Executive Committee, and Zonal Committee at the party’s Benin City headquarters.
Following the defeat of the PDP in the recently concluded Ekiti State election, Obaseki said the meeting was important.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) won the governorship election that took place over the weekend.
He stated that in order to avoid a repeat of the Ekiti scenario in the presidential election of 2023, the party in the state must unite, resolve conflicts among members, and bring everyone together in order for the PDP to win the general election.
“I am proposing this afternoon, that we all commit ourselves to resolving all the issues in all the chapters across the State. I have consulted and for the time being decided that Chief Lucky Igbinedion, a former Governor of the State to chair the peace committee of the party in the state.
“He will select three notable leaders of the party in the three Senatorial Districts of the State to work with him in the next 30 to 60 days to try to resolve all the issues in the party.”
The governor pointed out that the PDP is leading the pace because it has chosen Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s Vice Presidential running mate, whilst the ruling party is having difficulty deciding on its Vice Presidential candidate.
Obaseki said the meeting was called to make peace in the party, adding that ” We have gathered here today to seek peace in the PDP as this is the only way to win the presidential election come 2023. The internal wrangling is the only thing that can stop us as it has stopped PDP in Ekiti State.
“If we sue for peace in the party, we will certainly find one. We should try to resolve the internal wrangling within the party as no court case can bring peace unless we sit together to resolve our quarrel.”
“Our aim is to be in power and to be the ruling party. Our collective interest should be our major focus, not our selfish interest which is at the root of the crisis of the party.”
From this month on, Obaseki asked party officials to make ward meetings more important and mandatory. He urged party leaders to activate the youth wing in order to recruit young people into the party ahead of the 2023 general election.