PDP Reschedules Congresses in Lagos, Imo, Benue, Katsina

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has approved fresh primaries for the election of candidates for National and State Assembly seats in Lagos, Imo, Benue and Katsina states.

This is coming as the Governor of Sokoto State, Mr Aminu Bello Tambuwal has stated that he stepped down his presidential ambition for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as a sacrifice for Nigerians.

The rescheduling of the primaries was contained in a statement yesterday signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, in Abuja.

He said: “After very careful deliberations on the reports of the Electoral and Appeal Panels on the Congresses of our Party in Lagos, Imo, Benue and Katsina states, the NWC has approved repeat primaries in the following federal and state constituencies to nominate our Candidates for the 2023 general election as follows:

 “Sunday, June 5, 2022: Ahiazu State Constituency of Imo State; Orsu State Constituency of Imo State; Musawa State Constituency of Katsina State; Dandume State Constituency of Katsina State; Zango State Constituency of Katsina State; Oru East/Orsu/Orlu Federal Constituency of Imo State; Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency of Benue State.

 “Monday, June 6, 2022; Lagos State House of Representatives Primaries (24 Federal Constituencies),” the statement explained.

The statement further read: “Furthermore, Kaduna Central Senatorial District of Kaduna State, Enugu West Senatorial Districts of Enugu State as well as Boki/Ikom Federal Constituency and Yakuur II State Constituency, both of Cross River State earlier scheduled for Saturday, June 4, 2022, have been cancelled.”

Meanwhile, the Sokoto State Governor, Tambuwal, has disclosed why he stepped down his presidential ambition to support the candidacy of Atiku at the recent presidential primary of the PDP.

The governor, who was also a presidential aspirant on the platform of the party before his late withdrawal where he asked his supporters to vote for Atiku, said it was a sacrifice for Nigerians and Nigeria as a country.

    The governor stated this while addressing a crowd who welcomed him back at the state government house on Friday shortly after he arrived from Abuja.

Tambuwal said: “Thank you very much our leaders and distinguished supporters from all over the country for your support and cooperation. I must thank the leaders of our party here at the Sokoto State level and every level.

“What we have done is for the good of our party and the country. I appreciate every one of you that prayed for me and our party. The sacrifice that I have made on your behalf is aimed at strengthening our party, our democracy, and, by the grace of God, soft-landing our polity.

“This aligns with the teachings of our leaders and the [emulation] of the examples they have given to us in the past: that we must continue to make sacrifices for the good of all of us and our country.

·       “I thank the people of Sokoto State and all my supporters across the country for their support. Rest assured, we shall work assiduously for the victory of our party come 2023 general election.”