2019 presidential poll: PDP leaders mount pressure on Jonathan to shelve ambition

2019 presidential poll: PDP leaders mount pressure on Jonathan to shelve ambition

•Party may concede presidential ticket to the North

•Ekweremadu, Akpabio, others for VP slot

•Forum of ex-Ministers decline to endorse Lamido

Some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are reportedly mounting pressure on ex-President Goodluck Jonathan to shelve his alleged ambition to contest the 2019 presidential election.

It was learnt that the leaders’ advisory was subtly relayed to the ex-President through his supporters who were trying to gauge the opinions of PDP members on the issue.

But the party looks likely to concede its presidential ticket to the North irrespective of who, between Sen. Ahmed Makarfi and Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, wins the PDP leadership contest at the Supreme Court.

Party sources said Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, Senate Minority Leader Godswill Akpabio, and some governors are being considered as presidential running mate.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the party is already repositioning itself for a major battle with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2019 elections.

It was gathered that while many party leaders still have a lot of affection for Jonathan for “keeping faith with his transition programme” and want him to have a fresh shot at the presidency, others strongly believe that it will be difficult to sell his candidature to the majority of Nigerian voters.

Based on realistic permutations, some leaders of the party have been mounting pressure on Jonathan to forego his ambition in the interest of the party.

A top source in PDP said: “Although we are awaiting the decision of the Supreme Court on the leadership of our party, we have gone far with our homework.

“A realistic option we have faced is the fact that to win in 2019, we have to retain our presidential ticket in the North. The PDP is still solid in the South-East and in the South-South.

“We have however come to appreciate that conceding the ticket to ex-President Jonathan might not work considering ethnic colouration which beclouded the last presidential election.

“The allegations raised against some key actors in Jonathan’s government, including ex-First Lady have made the choice of the ex-President a hard sell.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “PDP leaders have subtly passed the message to Jonathan.

“We are however leaving the ticket open to the North. We anticipate that some defectors from APC might add more strength to our search for a candidate that can beat to the game.

“We want to try as much as possible to provide alternatives to APC. Of recent, ex-Governor Sule Lamido is the only leader who has come out with his presidential aspiration.

“Even when an attempt was made to enable the Forum of former Ministers to endorse Lamido, it was rejected.

The source listed the Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, the Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Akpabio, and some governors (whose names were not revealed) as some of those being considered for the VP slot.

“Certainly, the PDP will pick its running mate from either the South-East or the South-South.

“Our search team said it is impossible for the party to look forward to the South-West because of the grip of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the ongoing consolidation in the zone by APC.”

STAFFS OF DIAMOND BANK IMO STATE SECRETARIAT BRANCH CELEBRATE CHILDREN'S DAY IN A GRAND WAY.

STAFFS OF DIAMOND BANK IMO STATE SECRETARIAT BRANCH CELEBRATE CHILDREN'S DAY IN A GRAND WAY.

By Unyime Leo

Staff of diamond bank across the country yesterday shock the entire Nation as they turned out in secondary school-styled pinafores, shorts and shirts in commemoration of this year’s Children’s Day.

The child-friendly concept, an offshoot of the bank’s “Beyond Banking” marketing initiative, had the social media in frenzy all through Yesterday, with colourful pictures and videos of the highly excited high school-dressed staff going viral across various platforms.

While interviewing the BM and the CSM of Imo state Secretariat Branch Mrs Ezeji Chinwe and Miss Valentina Obiyo the duo spokes of the concept beyond banking emphasize on parent carrying their Children along in their Financial Planning and as such ensuring the insurance of their offsprings. They also advice opening a kiddies account for a child at Diamond Bank is Securing the future of the Child.

Customers at the branches also relieved being treated very nicely as though they were pampered kids.

The bank through this act has won the heart of  customers across the Nation with its extraordinary show of solidarity with children on their Day May 27.

#BeyondBanking
#DiamondNews
#ImoSecDiary

ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS. (APC),

ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS.                    (APC),

AKWA IBOM STATE CHAPTER,
#4, Atiku Abubakar Way, Uyo.

OFFICE OF THE STATE CHAIRMAN
                  0808-512-9732

                 PRESS RELEASE
ZONING DOESN'T EXIST IN APC.

I wish to bring to the notice of the entire APC family and Akwa Ibomites both home and in diaspora that they should disregard the zoning communique in the social media that the APC has zoned the governorship position for 2019 to Eket Senatorial District. That we have never in any meeting agreed to such an arrangement and that at no point has the leadership  of APC ably led by distinguished Senator John James Akpanudoedehe Ph.D, had ever organized such meeting.

We believed it is the handiwork of those who does not want peace and unity among members of the APC family. And who does not exist in the structuring of the party in the State. For such communique to be effective, stakeholders will be summon for a meeting by the leaders of the Party. Delegates would have been drawn from the three senatorial district of the State, which would've accommodated participants from the men, women and youth in the state before it could be said to be effective and binding.

Such communique is false and I urge the general public and the entire APC family to disregard such senseless publications those behind it are money mongers and selfish. I use this medium to call on those involved in the said propaganda to desist from such or be ready to face the consequences from my office as the state chairman of our great party.

For me, the only leaders of our great party are:
1) Distinguished Sen. John James Akpanudoedehe Ph.D

2) His Excellency Sam Ewang

3) Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Ekpeyong

These are the architects of our great party, no one else.

Long live APC!
Long live Akwa Ibom State!!
Long live Nigeria!!!

Obong Mitchel George.
Acting State Chairman