PDP Factions Predicated on 2019 Presidential Election, Says Adewale

The Lagos State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Otunba Segun Adewale, has said the leadership crisis rocking the party is being orchestrated by some external forces struggling for the soul of the party towards 2019 presidential ticket.

Adewale alleged that why the like of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is working to be nominated by the PDP from outside instead of coming back to the party and join hands with well-meaning and loyal leaders in the ongoing rebuilding effort.

The party leader condemned what he described as baseless accusations that the factional Chairman of the PDP, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, is an agent of the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to him, the accusation which he described as generally unfounded is a figment of the imagination of some paid elements within the party.

He said: “These agents are working towards the nomination of Atiku as our presidential standard bearer in the 2019 general election.

“They have resorted to cheap blackmail as it is becoming obvious that the effort of Sheriff to frustrate every attempt to impose a non-party member as our presidential nominee is beginning to gain the attention of well-meaning members.

“This is a case of a pot calling the kettle black. How can those promoting the nomination of a known leader of the APC as our presidential standard bearer accuse another of working for the ruling party?”

Adewale alleged that the PDP leader, Senator Ahmed Markafi, and his cohorts were the agents working against the interest and progress of the party ahead of the 2019 presidential election.

“If you x-ray recent activities in the party and comments of the Markafi-led faction, it’s obvious who is working against the general interest of our party. Everything is about Atiku’s ambition to be president in 2019,” he said.
He said if indeed Atiku and those allegedly promoting him wishes to pick the presidential ticket of the PDP, he should be bold enough to come back to the party they destroyed in the buildup to the 2015 general. “There is no point going through the back door as there is room within the party for every genuine member seeking political office,” he added.

The PDP chieftain pointed out that candidates presented by the Markafi-led faction of the party in Edo and Ondo States recently concluded governorship elections, Pastor Eze Iyamu and Eyitayo Jegede, are both known allies of the former vice president, and “this is a pointer to where they are tilting towards.”

Adewale therefore called on the Markafi-led faction to embrace genuine reconciliation, urging all aggrieved factions to come together for the sake of presenting a formidable candidate in the 2019 presidential election.

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