Mike Odiakose
Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in Ogun State, Hon Ladi Adebutu on Friday said the leadership of the party in the state is already working towards reconciling all aggrieved members of the party.
Fielding questions from journalists at the PDP national secretariat, Abuja after collecting his Certificate of Return, Hon Adebutu admitted that the PDP has a job to do to upstage the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state.
The governorship candidate added that the primary election that gave him the PDP ticket was duly conducted by the national leadership of the party.
“We know the journey is too far. We still have many odds to across and we’re not perturbed by the job ahead because we are driven by needs to set our people free from the shackles of mis-governance.
“We take this as a challenge to work harder and we’re particularly grateful that our people and the party for the platform. PDP has given us this opportunity to go forward and rescue our state.
“By and large this is the first primaries has been conducted by a panel empowered by the national body.
“Yes, it is okay for people to empower the panel to conduct primaries, there’s nothing wrong with that but that is not a PDP panel.
“The PDP constituted, empowered a panel that was supervised, observed by INEC in accordance with laws of the land, the electoral law and this process has been found to be transparent and good enough to be authenticated today to have produced a candidate for Ogun states and this certificate certify such. This is the first time we have had such in Ogun state for a while.
“It is now a duty for all concerned to go forward and do reconciliation and I can assure you that we have already embarked on that duty.
“We will continue to reach out to those that feel that they have a grouse. Am sure that with time, we shall have total reconciliation and we shall even extend hands of fellowship beyond the party and make it an intra party thing. Because we can even see fellow brothers from other parties trying to join our party now and am sure that after their convention, we shall be welcoming them.”
Responding to question on his running mate, Adebutu said stakeholders in the state will meet to reach a consensus on the matter.
Speaking earlier, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said members of the PDP will all work as a team to ensure victory for the party in 2023.
“I want to assure all of you that we will work together as a team and make sure you are all brought back elected as governors in your respective states, and i will ensure we work together as a team in every state of this country, to enthrone a PDP government.
“The question of saying that all we are going to give a quarter or so to the ruling party must not arise in this election.
“The processes, which have made you to emerge, are now history, what is before us is a task that we must all unite and achieve for this party and for Nigerians.”
