Following the emergence of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as the running mate for the People`s Democratic Party candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, over the preferred choice of most party chieftains, the PDP seems to be braising for a big challenge ahead of the presidential election.
On Channels Television breakfast program – the Arise Daily, monitored by a Clariform reporter, a former spokesperson of the party, Mr. Kassim Afegbua, alleges that the party is heading for the rocks and that this will soon become manifest to the public.
The outspoken Edo State born politician, who have jumped between the PDP and the All Progressive Congress, APC, says that Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa as the running mate for Atiku is an imposition on the party.
He said that this was orchestrated by the National Chairman of the party against the freewill of the PDP bigwigs whose preference was the River State governor, Barr Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.
He said that the party Chairman, Prof Iyorchia Ayu has been a very partisan person as against a neutral position, which he says a party Chairman should hold.
According to him, Dr. Okowa is a “minority candidate who became the chosen candidate” by imposition by the National Chairman “in connivance with the candidate”, Atiku, the PDP flagbearer.
He further said that “PDP had a party guidelines” that is to the effect that the party will chose the running mate for the flagbearer and that the choice will not be made by the flagbearer himself.
On the bases of this guideline, Mr. Afegbua said a 19 member panel was set up to choose Atiku`s running mate. Out of two shortlisted candidates, the panel members voted 16 in favour of Governor Wike, against 3 votes for Governor Okowa.
Contrary to this clearly expressed preference of the panel members, who were acting for the party, the PDP Chairman Iyorchia Ayu single handedly endorsed and imposed Okowa on the party, but in connivance with Atiku.
Speaking further, he alleges that just “this morning alone I have received at least three calls” requesting for the dropping of Okowa as the running mate for the PDP candidate. He said that if this is not done, “you will see what will happen in the party”.
The former PDP spokesperson also claimed that the National Chairman and the party flagbearer, Atiku are scared of Governor Nyesom Wike because of his independent mindedness and ability “to speak truth to power.”
He also said that the announcement of Okowa on Thursday was an ambush to most of the PDP governors. According to him, this was the reason most of the governors and party chieftains stayed away from the event where the running mate of the party was announced, and that “this should not have been so”.
Mr Afegbua also berated the Delta State governor for betraying the South in the quest for power shift to the zone and should be allowed to profit from such betrayal.
He said: “Okowa hosted the Asaba declaration where 17 governors of the Southern Nigeria met and took a decision that the presidency should come to the South…Eight of these governors which are from the PDP have also been meeting to support and push this narrative, but surprisingly Dr Okowa midstream took a different turn.
“So we know that within the PDP he supported Atiku Abubakar” and not any of the Southern contestants at the PDP convention.
Going further, he said: “I thought he should have worked continuously in support of that, rather going through the back door to work for a Northern candidate who eventually emerged as the presidential candidate”
Kassim Afegbua made the above disclosures while answering questions on Friday on a Channels Television breakfast program, the Sunrise Daily.
The former PDP spokesperson said that consequently, he cannot in good conscience support the joint ticket of Atiku and Okowa, no matter the level of underground fence mending process that might happen between now and the February 2023 presidential election.
“I have only one vote, you cannot deny me that vote. I will just use it, whether it is effective or not no problem.
“I like to hold positions that clears my conscience from conflict. I don’t like double standard. I don’t like hypocrisy…I want to please my conscience and that is how I want to be documented in history” said Kassim Afegbua.
