PDP Candidates In Ondo Move To Scuttle Atiku’s Presidential Ambition

The lingering crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the national level has taken another dimension in Ondo State as candidates of the party have shunned the Presidential candidate of the party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar for independent campaigns.

The PDP candidates who are loyal to the former Governor of the state, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, have vowed not to campaign for the presidential candidate and his running mate, Atiku Abubarkar and Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa ahead of the forthcoming general elections.

Mimiko, a member of the Integrity Group led by Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, and other G-5 governors have been calling for the resignation of the PDP National Chairman, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu, as a means of striking a balance in the party.

LEADERSHIP Weekend gathered from one of the candidates of the party in Akure, the state capital that the leadership of the party in the state has not helped his aspiration and would not allow his political future to be toyed with by those whose only interest is campaign funds.

Also, a House of Representatives candidate in Ondo South senatorial district said the party cannot win any election under the present arrangements where the focus is on who becomes the governorship candidate in 2024 when the presidential election has not been concluded.

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According to him, the party in the state has been compromised, waiting for campaign funds to be shared without showing concern about whether or not the party wins the 2023 elections, saying that led to the low turnout for the flag-off Southwest rally of the party on November 30.

This development came as a group under the auspices of PDP South West Integrity Group (PS-WIYG), urged the party’s Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to quickly reconcile with the G-5 Governors to avoid losing out in the 2023 general election.

The group, however, expressed displeasure over Atiku’s inability to unify the party despite being tagged a Unifier.

The youth group, therefore called on the leadership of the party to look into some demands of the G-5 Governors to avoid the destruction of the PDP.

The convener of the group, Fola Awodola, said the surest way to defeat the All Progressives Congress at the 2023 poll was to shun infighting and nip the lingering in the party in the bud.