Ahead of the governorship poll coming up September 19th, 2020, the former vice president Atiku Abubakar of the PDP and the President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC, have charged their political parties to victory at the polls.
Activate 150 support groups for Obaseki – Atiku
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar a stakeholder of the PDP, has donated his 150 support groups to Gov. Godwin Obaseki’s governorship campaign organisation in Edo.
Abubakar announced this in a statement made available to newsmen on Saturday in Benin.
The statement was signed by Mr Oladimeji Fabiyi, Deputy Director of the defunct Atiku Support Group/Mobilization Presidential Campaign Organisation.
It quoted Abubakar as directing that the 150 independent support groups in Edo be immediately activated in support of Obaseki, PDP’s flag bearer in the election.
It stated further: “The former Vice President, as a major stakeholder of the PDP, considers it expedient to put in place winning structures and machinery that will guarantee total victory for the party in Edo.
We need to complete the circle in the south-south region that naturally and originally belonged the PDP.
Having received the directive with joy and enthusiasm, I have no doubt that all our support groups in Edo will be very glad to receive this news and run with the directive of Atiku Abubakar for the benefit of Obaseki and the PDP,” it stated.
Buhari says , we must not lose Edo to opposition party
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday told the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors to ensure that the party reclaims Edo State in the September governorship elections.
President Buhari gave the marching order when the APC Governors on the platform of the Progressive Governors Forum, PGF, led by its Chairman, Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State led some members of the forum and the Chairman, Caretaker/Convention Planning Committee and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni paid a ‘thank you’ visit to him at the State House, Abuja.
It was reliably gathered that the President told the governors to mobilize themselves to do all that is necessary to make sure that Edo does not remain in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
He also said that Ondo state must be retained by the governing party in the forthcoming election.
President Buhari was said to have been disappointed that a serving APC governor could be driven to the point of leaving the party and aligning with the opposition.
Sources privy to the meeting hinted that President Buhari was critical about the crises in the governing party and was said to have reiterated his warning that the APC may disintegrate if the crises in it are allowed to fester.
The President told the governors that loyalty should be to the party rather than individuals.
According to him, “the mutating disagreements could lead to self-destruction, with dire consequences.”
President Buhari then proposed that: “The meeting may adopt the developed resolution as contained in the agenda and pass resolutions including approving the immediate discontinuation of all pending litigations involving the party and its members; ratifying the primary election conducted in Edo State; dissolving the current National Working Committee, and appointing caretaker/Extra-ordinary Convention Planning committee for the party.’’
The President said in order to return to the “winning ways’’, the APC must maintain cohesion by closing its ranks.
He further said: “We must be alive to the time and the task that is before us. As we all know, we are immediately confronted with the upcoming gubernatorial elections in Edo and Ondo States. Therefore, this is the time to get our acts together.’’
