The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the just-concluded election, Atiku Abubakar, has called for the revamping of the party to regain its eminent and dominant leadership role in Nigeria and Africa.
Atiku said this at a programme ‘welcome/reception of PDP governors-elect and send forth of the past PDP Governors’ Forum (PDP-GF) chairmen’ in Abuja on Thursday, May 11.
The former Vice President stated that the PDP formed in 1999 as a dominant political party was passing through challenges that must be addressed.
He said: “We have a number of challenges. We started as a dominant political party in 1999 and since then, we have been receding.
“I think it is time for us to take a stock and find out why we are receding and how can we make sure that our eminent position as the leading political party in this country, as the oldest political party in this country, we regain our position.
“This is a very important challenge which I think requires a while day seminar for us as a party to ensure that we regain our eminent position in the politics of this country and the whole of Africa.”
Atiku, who congratulated all the governors-elect and those re-elected on the platform of the PDP, urged all party members to be united and determined in the party effort to reclaim its mandate at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT).
Also speaking at the event, former Vice President, Nnamani Sambo, advised the party to look into how members of the party were being suspended without recourse to due process.
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Sambo said there was a need for the cooperation of all to keep the party members together.
“What is happening in some states today already is very unfortunate. For example, in Kaduna State today, people are being suspended from the party front, left, right, and centre without due process.
“I will cease this opportunity to publicly call on the acting national chairman to look into what is happening in Kaduna State, because all the ingredients for trouble and problems in the party are being put in place.
“So likewise in other states, I will use this opportunity to call on all party members to cooperate, to let the party continue,” the former Vice President stated.
On his part, the PDP Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, commended the PDP-GF for always contributing to the development of the party and projecting it in the areas of good governance.
Damagum, who congratulated the governors elected on the platform of the party, urged them to emulate the outstanding performance that the PDP governors were known for.
“For the newly elected governors, I also congratulate you and advise you follow the footsteps of your predecessors.
“We have made a mark. There is no state that PDP is governed that has not seen development. I believe you will follow the footsteps of the governors. For those states that were not PDP before, I also believe you will do more,” he said.
Damagum called on the judiciary to ensure justice was done on the ongoing election petitions on the presidential election before it.
Speaking, the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, said since the formation of the forum in 2014 it has become an alternative voice in the governance of the country, which could not be ignored.
Tambuwal urged the governors-elect to continue to sustain the collaboration and strength the forum is known for.
“Also the newly elected governors of our party, on behalf of my colleagues, governors in the forum, welcome you to this event and into the forum. You are the shining arm of our party going forward.
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“I am happy to bequeath to you and indeed the members of this forum, a forum that is strong, cohesive, and vocal in the defense of democracy and good governance in the country.
“With the caliber of governors-elect I see here today, I can say confidently forum is going to be in good hands,” the governor added.
He commended the outgoing governors for their solidarity, comradeship, and dedication to move the party forward.
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