Indications emerged on Wednesday that Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have endorsed Senator Samuel Anyanwu as consensus candidate for the position of National Secretary ahead of the party’s October 30-31 national convention.
Anyanwu was on Wednesday sighted at the meeting of the Governors with the National Chairman designate, Dr Iyorchia Ayu.
The meeting, which was held at the Akwa Ibom Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja, was believed to have ratified Anyanwu’s candidature as National Secretary.
Anyanwu and Ayu left the meeting shortly before the meeting ended.
The duo declined to speak with journalists as they walked briskly to their waiting cars and were driven away.
Sokoto Governor Aminu Tambuwal explained away Anyanwu’s presence when a journalist sought to know his mission at the meeting.
Responding to the question, Tambuwal, who presided over the meeting as chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, said Anyanwu and Ayu only came to have a private discussion with one or two of the Governors.
“No, no, no. They came for a private discussion with one or two governors. They had their private discussions and left. Thank you,” Tambuwal said, with a mechanical smile.
However, the fate of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Prof Adewale, and Toafeek Arapaja, the three candidates vying for the position of Deputy National Chairman (South) remained unknown.
Tambuwal said the meeting received briefings from Adamawa Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, who is the chairman of the Convention Planning/Organising Committee.
Governor Tambuwal said: “We have just finished our meeting where we received briefings from the chairman of the Convention Planning /Organising Committee, the governor of Adamawa state, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.
“That we are on course and by the grace of God, they have almost concluded every arrangement and plan for a very successful, free and fair convention for the PDP coming up on the 30th and 31st of this month.
“We are very grateful to the Convention Planning Committee and other sub-committees for the work they are doing. We are optimistic that PDP is going to come out more united from this convention and much more ready to provide the desired platform upon which many Nigerians can realise their aspirations.
“We shall continue to deepen our democracy and work together as democrats for greater Nigeria. The work for the convention is in progress for us to have a successful, hitch-free and peaceful convention”.
The Governors that attended the meeting include Godwin Obaseki (Edo); Duoye Diri (Bayelsa); Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu); Nyesom Wike (Rivers); Seyi Makinde (Oyo); Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia); Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa); Bala Mohammed (Bauchi); and Tambuwal.
A few of the Governors that did not attend the meeting were represented by their deputies.
