2023: Okowa Speaks On Betraying Southern Presidency To Emerge As Atiku’s Running Mate

The Vice-Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ifeanyi Okowa has distanced himself from claims that he betrayed some people in the party.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Delta, Olisa Ifeajika, on Monday noted that his principal did not betray anyone.

Ifeajika recalled that the Southern Governors’ Forum during their meetings in Asaba, Lagos and Enugu agreed to work towards the realisation of the Southern Presidency.

He, however, stated that the Southern Governors’ Forum comprises of members of different political parties, adding that the decision of the forum was just a wish.

Ifeajika further stated that the resolution of the forum was not intended to be compulsory for all political parties.

He said decisions varied when members of the forum returned to their political party.

Okowa’s aide said, “For us in PDP, the party told the Governors that it may not go with their position because we are in opposition and in order to get it right, the party set up a committee headed by Benue Governor, Samuel Ortom, to advise it appropriately on the zoning of the ticket.

“The Ortom committee, in its wisdom, recommended that zoning be jettisoned to allow all aspirants to participate in the primary to enable the best to emerge.

“The committee presented its report to the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) where it was agreed to open the presidential ticket to enable the best hands to emerge as recommended.

“As far as we are aware, no member, including the governors or group protested the party’s decision. They all acquiesced and accepted the party’s decision on zoning.

“There was no treachery anywhere because no agreement was reached. The party’s position prevailed and delegates at the Presidential Primary voted as they wished.”

He added that after the presidential primaries of the party, some people are still accusing his principal of betrayal.

Ifeajika asked where the five aggrieved Governors of the PDP identified as the G-5 were when Ortom Committee threw the presidential ticket of the party open.

He wondered, “Why didn’t they raise their voices against the party’s decision not to zone the ticket to any part and rise against it?

“They agreed to it, and participated, only to start an agitation without foundation after a candidate had emerged.

“I see the G-5 Governors’ agitation as a distraction and I appeal to them to sheath their sword and beat a retreat as quickly as possible to join the party’s rescue mission.

“They remain very senior members of the PDP and they remain an important factor because the next election is a low-hanging fruit for the PDP to pick if we close ranks. We believe that Nigerians would vote for the party.”