Raymond Dokpesi, one of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National
Chairmanship aspirants, has said that all the eight chairmanship
aspirants will sign a peace accord as part of their commitment to a
successful convention.
Mr. Dokpesi, the founder of Daar Communications, disclosed this in an
interview with journalists after the PDP Governors Forum met with all
aspirants in Enugu. The meeting ended in the early hours of Monday.
Mr. Dokpesi disclosed that all the aspirants had agreed to sign the
peace accord at the party’s national secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja,
by 4 p.m.
He described the move as part of efforts by the aspirants to ensure
that the party comes out of the convention stronger and united.
“With that accord being signed, we are going to look forward to a very peaceful and harmonious convention.”
Asked if the issue of zoning came up at the meeting of the forum with
the aspirants, Mr. Dokpesi said the party was explicit enough on the
issue of zoning.
He said that while the party’s presidential ticket was zoned to the
North, the position of chairman was zoned to the South, without specific
reference to states or geopolitical region.
He said that the candidates had agreed to work together
“After the zoning principle, all the aspirants have agreed to work
together to come up with a common position. Anybody can contest.
“If the party in its wisdom and the aspirants agreed within themselves and notify the party early enough that would be fine.”
Also asked if the issue of a consensus candidate was deliberated at
the meeting, Mr. Dokpesi said “no, but that did not mean there was no
discussion among the aspirants.
“Today on the way forward, a few of the aspirants met in the morning
and in the afternoon and discussed which solution can be adopted.”
Mr. Dokpesi added that following the meeting, he would go ahead with his campaign and consultation to fulfil his ambition.
The Governor of Ekiti and Chairman of the Forum, Ayodele Fayose, said
that the party’s national convention, scheduled for December 9, would
be a world class event that other political parties would emulate.
Mr. Fayose said that the party has worked hard and it has all it takes to win the Saturday Anambra governorship election.
“We are using this opportunity to demand that the election should be
credible. It should not only be credible but seen to be credible.
“We want to believe that Nigeria is of age to organise election that
is acceptable at home and internationally, on November 18 in Anambra,”
Mr. Fayose added
In attendance were the Chairman of the party’s National Caretaker
Committee, Ahmed Makarfi, as well as all the PDP governors, except that
of Ebonyi who was represented by his deputy.
Other aspirants at the meeting were Bode George, Gbenga Daniel, Uche
Secondus, Tunde Adeniran, Jimi Agbaje, Taoheed Adedoja and Rashid
Ladoja.
Also in attendance were Ike Ekweremadu, the Deputy President of the
Senate; Gabriel Susuwan, former Benue Governor; Adolphus Nwabara and
Sule Lamido.