Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has denied knowing about the meeting between the governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike, his loyalists and the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in London on Tuesday.
Recall that various media platforms have been awash with news of the meeting between Wike, his loyalists and Tinubu in London on Tuesday, fueling speculations that Wike may work for Tinubu in the forthcoming election or may defect to the APC.
Fielding questions from newsmen shortly after an interactive meeting with the PDP governorship candidates, Bala said he believes in the supremacy and sanctity of the party, adding that the mood of the party is excellent.
He said: “The Chairman has already spoken. You know we are loyal party members. We believe in the supremacy and sanctity of the party and he has already told you that the mood is very excellent.
“The candidates are coming together, unite to discuss, even issues of reconciliation. So, it is a very democratic party, he is open and we have ask him all the question that we need to ask about how to win the elections and then the strategies are ours. We don’t have to relate it to the media now, but certainly we are on course. I am not aware of the meeting between other party members and governor Wike.”
Also speaking, the National Chairman of the party, Senator Iyorcha Ayu, who said that PDP wants to win 25 states, added that “the candidates came and express their concerns in their various states. Briefed us on the efforts they are making in their various states to win the election.
“As you know, the elections will be won in the states not just at the national level. I am very happy with the progress that are made so far in various states and some of the little issues that we have clarified and it was an extremely useful meeting.
“So we are happy that the members of the party are very determined that we don’t just win at the national level, but also States of Assembly, National Assembly and governors. We want to return about 25 state governors or more as we used to have. So the mood in the party is excellent.”
Speaking on behalf of the governorship candidates, Isa Mohammed Ashiru, Kaduna State Governorship Candidate and Chairman of PDP Governorship Candidates’ Forum, explained that they are on a consultative meeting with the party leaders.
He said: “We are here on a consultative meeting with our leaders on the way forward and we have extended discussions and views, regarding the 2023 elections and we are home and dry. We don’t have crisis in PDP. I don’t know where you got this information.”
Meanwhile, the Oyo state governor, Seyi Mankinde, who is the party candidate for the state was conspicuously missing from the meeting.
