The Chairman of the committee for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ward congress in Anambra State, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and his Ekiti State counterpart, Chief Ayo Fayose on Monday reiterated the party’s resolve to conduct a free and fair ward election and governorship primary in the state.

He said that unlike what was happening in the past, the state politicians as well as the aspirants would never buy over any member of their committee.

Addressing the governorship aspirants and their supporters who turned out in large numbers to find out modalities for Monday’s ward congress of the party at its secretariat in Awka, the two governors reminded the aspirants that it was only by working together and putting aside their differences that PDP could take over the government in the state.

“We must work together and put our differences aside and make sure that PDP comes back and takes over Anambra State. And whether you like or not, power comes from God. You can take the ticket and you may not be able to win the election. All of you know that some of us passed through this exercise, but God said we are going to be there and we are there.

“Not because we are stronger; not because we have money, but because God said at His appointed time, you are the one to be there.

“It is only agents of other political parties that would want to cause trouble, but if you are a true believer of PDP, you know that we have to work as a family.

“I want to say that nobody can buy this committee. We have told the aspirants that if any of their supporters makes trouble, the person will be disqualified. And with two of us, the chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and with me as chairman of this panel, no money can change our decision.

“That is why I said, let us respect ourselves by doing the right thing. We are going to do a transparent election. If you are popular, go to your Ward. You cannot be popular at the party secretariat here,” Wike stated.

He further stressed that nobody could hijack the election, saying that that was the reason the aspirants were advised to go to their wards and participate in the election.

He added: “We have seven agents here who were nominated by each of the seven aspirants and we also urge the aspirants to go to their wards and prove their popularity.

“I can tell you that if you like to hijack anything, before you hijack, we have cancelled it. Nobody can meet us in any hotel and beg that we should accept their result. Everything must be done in the party secretariat.

“For the party to have sent two of us here shows the seriousness of the exercise. So, I want to beg everybody in the name of God, let us work as a family. Nobody can influence us. Let PDP be strong and win the governorship election.

“If we could struggle in our states and won, who is here in Anambra State to stop PDP from winning? Nobody can stop us here because PDP owns Anambra State.

Nwike maintained that PDP lost grip of the Agu-Awka seat of power out of carelessness, adding that since the representative of the state at the Senate and House of Representatives were from PDP, efforts should be made to take back the governorship seat.

He said: “Without the Governor, it does not make meaning. So, let everybody work together. I know that everybody aspiring wants to emerge, but it is not possible for everybody to emerge at the same time. One person must emerge in a transparent way.

“PDP has just come out and we must do something that people will say truly PDP is on the right track.”

On his part, Fayose appealed to PDP members to have the interest of the party in mind in whatever they do, adding that it was not good for any aspirant to be linked to violence, “because some are already saying it now that if it does not work in their way, they will scatter the election.”

“APGA (All Progressives Grand Alliance) have done their own and I watched it on the television. I know APC (All Progressives Congress) will still do their own and whether na kolo kolo or kulu kulu, they will still do it and in their style of the more you look, the less you see.

“But this PDP election should start with orderliness. We have men who have proven themselves to be reliable leaders contesting, but with the desperation of the people, we will not allow them to mess the party up.

“Our position is that if you are linked to violence you are disqualified, not only in that ward, but in the whole process, you are gone.

“Our report will show it that you an enemy of the party. So, it is better to go into this election peacefully, than to start fighting each other because we are not prepared for that," he stated.

The address was immediately followed with a marathon meeting with the aspirants and later adjourned to continue, while those to conduct the congress at the 326 Wards of the state later left with the election materials.

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