Ahead of the December 9 convention of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, indications have emerged that the party may settle for a consensus candidate from among those currently in the race for the national chairmanship position.
Gbenga Daniel, one of the chairmanship aspirants and former governor of Ogun State, announced this Wednesday in Abuja at the end of a meeting convened by Raymond Dopkesi with Professor Taoheed Adedoja and Jimi Agbaje in attendance.
Briefing newsmen at the end of the a two-hour meeting aimed at bringing the aspirants together for continued deliberations in the weeks leading to the all-important convention, Daniel did not rule out the possibility of a consensus candidate, saying the party had travelled the path before.
“Nothing is impossible especially when you have people of like minds. Even on the podium on the December 9, some people may for some reasons say that they want to step down. It happened before,” he said.
Insisting that the contest was not a do-or-die affair, the former governor blamed the media for the hype surrounding the race to the chairmanship of the party, stating that for him and his co-contestants, the “whole thing,” is a family affair of the PDP.
He continued: “You must appreciate that all of us are friends and pals. We have come a long way and this intra-party contest is not going to make any difference and this is what we are demonstrating here. Yes, it is indeed a contest for the chairman of the party; it is not a do or die sort of thing, it is a family affair,” stressing that for the party to conduct a credible convention devoid of rancor, “All hands must be on deck.”
The ex- governor further tasked the party leadership, members and supporters to do everything possible to conduct a convention that would place PDP in a vantage position ahead of the 2019 polls.
“I want to see a peaceful convention; a well-organized convention that will demonstrate to the people of this country that the party has bounced back. A well-organized convention where everybody will be dancing as we elect our next set of party executives,” he added.
Also speaking, Dokpesi said all the aspirants believe in the stability of the country and the PDP, noting that come 2019, the party would reclaim power at the centre as well as in many states of the federation.
“We have quite a lot of chance. We believe that PDP is capable of winning the Presidential elections in 2019 and win in many states. There is no doubt about that,” he stated.
The media tycoon also seized the opportunity to clear the air on his reported endorsement of one of the chairmanship aspirants, Chief Bode George as published by a national daily (not Vanguard) last week. According to him, his presence at George’s campaign office in Abuja was nothing short of solidarity with a fellow party leader, saying he would similarly visit other aspirants at one time or the other.
“I thought I made it a clear cut statement at the occasion that chief Bode George is our leader and he is eminently qualified and capable of providing leadership to PDP. You may not be aware that I was also at Professor Tunde Adeniran’s campaign office.
On the increasing demand for youths and women empowerment in the affairs of the nation, Dokpesi argued that for a long time, he had been an advocate for both, stating however that the constitutional amendments of the party failed to cater for them.
He said: “I have been an advocate that women should be given their rightful place in the governance of the party; that the youths should be given a chance. But unfortunately, in the amendment of the constitution that went to the National Executive Committee (NEC), these elements were left out. That means Aluta continua; the struggle must continue.”
