South South PDP governors plot to seize power in Edo

Ahead of the Edo State governorship election billed for September 10, five governors of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday met in Asaba, Delta State to strategize on how to wrest power from the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the State.

Speaking with journalists after the end of the closed-door meeting, host Governor Ifeanyi Okowa said that the parley was for South-South PDP governors.

Flanked by Udom Emmanuel of Akwa-Ibom, Nyesom Wike of Rivers, Ben Ayade of Cross River and Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa, Okowa said that they discussed issues affecting the nation in general and the party in particular.

He said that they had a very useful meeting, the first since they were sworn-in last May, disclosing that they also discussed issues bothering on the PDP in Edo State.

According to him, the governors were optimistic that if the party puts its house in order it would win the Edo election.

He said: “You recall that Edo has its election in September and we tried to map out strategies in order to strengthen the party in that state.

We would not let the cat out of the bag now because we are putting things in shape at the moment.”

According to Okowa, the governors also brainstormed on how to make the forthcoming national convention in Port Harcourt a huge success, just as he urged party members and supporters to remain united in order to have a hitch free exercise.

“You we recall that our convention has been fixed for Port Harcourt on May 21, and we are already putting measures in place for that convention. The chairman of the committee is governor Wike, and we call on our supporters and members of the party to desist from anything that would cause any form of crisis.

“We want to go as a united body to Port Harcourt because we stand by the decision to hold the convention at Port Harcourt. Plans have been put in place for a wonderful convention,” he added.

On the security situation of the country particularly the activities of rampaging Fulani herdsmen, Okowa disclosed that the issue was one of the major issues discussed at the meeting, adding that the South-South PDP governors resolved to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari on the issue.

He said: “First is the issue of security and we decided that there will be the need for us in the South-South to have a meeting with Mr. President. Those are issues we are not going to let out until we see Mr. President.”

The governors condemned last weekend attack on Chevron facilities by unknown persons suspected to be militants, describing it as unfortunate, noting that plans were on to stem the tide of pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta region.