Olusola Fabiyi, Abuja
In a bid to have a rancour-free presidential primary, the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party met with its presidential aspirants in Abuja on Wednesday night.
The PDP team was led by its National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus.
Other members of the party’s National Working Committee and some members of the Board of Trustees were also in attendance.
Present at the meeting were the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki; a former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar; a former governor of Plateau State, Jona Jang; Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, a former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa and a former Chairman of the PDP Caretaker Committee, Ahmed Makarfi.
Also in attendance were a former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso and a former Minister of Special Duties and Inter Governmental Relations, Alhaji Kabir Tanimu Turaki (SAN).
Absent from the meeting were Ahmed Datti, Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Dankwanbo and a former governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido.
The meeting was held behind closed door.
It was gathered that Secondus told the aspirants that the party would conduct a free, fair and credible primary.
He was also said to have assured them that the NWC had no favourable aspirants among them, adding that the primary aim of the party was to sack the All Progressives Congress’ Federal Government in 2019.
He told them that the party and others leaders in the country would want the aspirants to cooperate with whoever emerged as the party’s candidate at the October 6 national convention.
A source at the meeting said, “Secondus, in his opening remark, thanked the aspirants for having confidence in the party and its national leadership.
“He also asked them to say whatever they have in mind and suggest to the party, areas they felt that the NWC should work on in order to have a credible primary.”
Sources at the meeting told our correspondent that the aspirants demanded a free and transparent primary.
They were said to have also said that they would “cooperate with anyone that emerges so far the process is credible, free and fair. “
Speaking with our correspondent on the outcome of the meeting, Secondus said he assured the aspirants of the party at all levels that there would be free, fair and transparent primaries where the delegates’ decision would prevail.
“Let me tell you that we the members of the NWC are assuring all aspirants of our party that the era of impunity or imposition is over in the party as a rebranded PDP under my watch would ensure transparency and fairness for all,” he added.
Secondus appealed to the aspirants to work harmoniously among themselves in the interest of the party “since it is only one person that will get the slot at the end of the day.”
He said, “I told them that we must not forget to put the will of God in all we do bearing in mind that nobody gets power unless as designed and approved by God.
“We are proud of all our aspirants, all of them are eminently qualified to rule this country and if we work in harmony we would chase away the APC out of the Aso Rock Villa by 2019.”
It was also gathered that all the aspirants in attendance were given time to speak.
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