PDP denies merger talks with Tinubu, others

Condemns withdrawal of Wike’s security aides

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT) has dismissed media reports of alliance talks with the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and others.

The Chairman of the board, Senator Walid Jibrin said such reports by the Ahmed Makarfi camp of the PDP were unfounded.

The reports also mentioned former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso and Senator Aliyu Wamakko as part of the talks.

But in a statement in Abuja yesterday, the PDP BoT chair said the party had never contemplated partnership with Tinubu and other APC chieftains with the purpose of forming another political party.

Jibrin said: “I salute Tinubu’s courage for coming out to speak frankly about his position regarding this unfounded rumour and for setting the record straight.

“In Tinubu’s reaction denouncing the report, he criticised the PDP and I can’t understand why anybody would think that we are going to form a new party with somebody who is condemning us.

“The PDP is a golden name, a party formed by respectable and dignified Nigerians like Alex Ekwueme, Jerry Gana, Solomon Lar, Adamu Ciroma, Aminu Wali, Sule Lamido and many others.”

He commended the efforts by the Senator Ike Ekweremadu committee and another led by Prof. Jerry Gana in finding solution to the conflicts within the PDP.

The party described the withdrawal of Governor Wike’s security aides as unconstitutional and asked that the decision be reversed immediately.

“Nigerians will recall that Governor Wike alerted to the plots of enemies to murder him. A serious indication was the withdrawal of more than 70 per cent of security personnel detailed to the Rivers State Government House, by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Folusho Adebanjo, working on the orders of the Federal Government.

“Wike has written two letters to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) reporting this obvious breach of his constitutional rights which has received no response. Instead, the Chief Security Officer, who happens to be the governor’s number one line of defence was withdrawn in the reply from the IGP,” the party stated.