Be Focused, We Can Surmount Any Struggle – Duke To PDP Members

Former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, has stated that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) can bounce into power if members are united, focused and steadfast.

While speaking at the end of the South-South Zonal Congress held in Calabar over the weekend, Duke urged members of the PDP to continue to work for the stability and unity of the party.

In recent times, the PDP has been struggling with internal squabbles and defections of key members to the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking about the situation, Duke said, “I want to implore us to be focused and steadfast. There is no amount of struggle we cannot surmount.”

Meanwhile, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that there will be no fresh South-South zonal congress of the PDP beyond the one held on Saturday in Calabar, Cross River State.

Speaking at the congress, Wike challenged the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP, insisting that the election was legitimate and final.

He urged delegates to elect officials who will defend and protect the party, emphasizing the importance of strong leadership in moving PDP forward.

Wike said, “The South-South Zone is the strongest zone of the PDP in Nigeria. It has always been and will always be. There is no part of the constitution that says congress should be postponed because of a wedding or travelling.

“There has never been a congress where every every delegate was present. The constitution did not say the National Working Committee should conduct a congress but the zone. I want to assure you that this is the final zonal congress of the South-South Zone, after the election today, no other zonal congress will hold.

“This is our job, our terrain, and we are not new to this. Nobody can intimidate me and I don’t need to be a governor. Let us put ourselves together in truth and ensure our party remains united and we can only be united when we are truthful. Let us also shine our eyes and elect leaders that will unite and protect our party.”

While speaking at the event, the zonal chairman, Dan Orbih, said the party’s problems in the zone are inflicted and insisted that the party should not define the company one keeps.

He also expressed optimism that Congress would help reposition the party and hick-start the process of rebuilding the party.