By Kolawole Ojebisi
The Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum has described as “provocative and unpleasant” the report that its members are working for the joint ticket of ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and ex-Anambra State Governor Peter Obi for the 2027 presidential election.
The forum debunked the report in a statement issued by its Director Director General, Emmanuel Agbo on Saturday.
The PDP Governors’ Forum, led by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, declared that the party’s governors will support any aspirant who wins the party’s ticket.
Some news platforms had reported that five PDP Governors are backing the 2027 ticket of El-Rufai and the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Obi, within the All Progressives Congress.
PDP Governors Forum stated “It is incumbent on the PDP Governors’ Forum through its leadership anchored by the Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, to openly denounce and in very strong terms, the unpleasant and provoking publications and rumours being peddled ad nauseam by negative forces and their agents who cannot absorb the temerity of this Forum to question their incapacities in leadership by performing above the limits imposed by their failed economic policies and programs, which have left the ordinary Nigerian with nothing other than poverty and financial hardship down to the remote locations.
“Unsatisfied with the results their clones have gotten in the low-willed factions they keep financing within our party structure, they have proceeded with direct confrontation on the Governors towards creating a one-party entrapment, with intention to split the opposition and thereby cripple democratic institutions and values through questionable adoptions and misinterpretation of the law, all to strangle the lifeline of our nation to enforce dictatorship and one-party rule.
“The PDP Governors’ Forum does not align with these actors, neither does it enjoy any ambience of political space to discuss nor seal the auction of the PDP through lowlife grifters who are allegedly working behind the scenes to support a potential Nasir El-Rufai/Peter Obi presidential ticket in the 2027 election.”
The Forum emphasized that, as a strong party, all branches of the PDP have consistently worked towards fostering reconciliation and strengthening the progress made at the subnational level to improve the lives of Nigerians.
It continued “It is obvious that these mischief makers and detractors, who are bewildered at the way and manner PDP Governors are daily performing to pull the people out of economic hardship despite the intimidation by the ruling APC, are only intimidated and can only throw mud at our good works.
“In the world of politics, rumours and speculations are common, as such, we will not allow these enemies of Progress and agents of confusion to gaslight the Nigerian people to draw wrong and erroneous conclusions.
“Our principles are for equity, social justice, sincerity of purpose, accountability, enthronement of undefiled electoral process, enhancement of the lives of the people, and propagation of humanity.
“Suffice it for us to irrevocably state here that in 2027, PDP Governors as disciplined leaders and stakeholders will exemplify this by wholeheartedly supporting whoever emerges as the flag-bearer of our great party in the battle to wrestle power from the non-performers at the centre.”
