Dokpesi Vows To Pursue PDP Contest To Convention Ground

Irrespective of the move by the Southwest, Dr. Dokpesi was unbending, yesterday, in his quest, vowing that the contest would go to the convention ground.

Dismissing claims that he was stepping down, Dokpesi in a statement issued by Mr. Ide Eguabor, Chairman of the Dokpesi Campaign Organisation said: “It has come to my attention and that of the Raymond Dokpesi Campaign Organization that speculations are rife to the effect that our principal, Dr. Raymond Dokpesi has succumbed to political pressure and agreed to drop out of the race for the office of the national chairman of our great party (PDP). 

Nothing can indeed be farther from the truth. “Chief Dokpesi is not only a front-runner but remains the aspirant to beat at the convention grounds on Saturday. “We urge teeming members and party delegates to disregard and ignore such cheap and diversionary antics aimed at causing ill wind in the PDP.

“Chief Dokpesi will not step down, and those who wish so are advised to redirect their energies to campaigns that will benefit their aspirants rather dissipate positive energy in negative direction. “The national convention is the first effort by the PDP since inception at entrenching an internal democratic process that will deepen our democracy.

“Let him who is running behind in this race remain behind or run faster than the man in front. The impunity and imposition of the past have long gone out of fashion. “The delegates will decide every contestant’s faith, and we should all agree to abide and accept the convention decision.

Only that the process must be free, fair and credible,” the Dokpesi campaign said. Meanwhile, the Adeniran campaign organisation, yesterday, declared its satisfaction with responses to its petitions ahead of the party’s convention, assuring that Adeniran was ready for the delegate election. In a media briefing by the Director General of his campaign organisation, Shehu Gabam, Adeniran said governors elected on the platform of the party have all pledged to make the convention credible and transparent.

Gabam, who noted that the campaigns so far have been issue-based stressed that aspirants have been interacting amongst themselves with a view to making the party stronger regardless of who emerges the winner at the end of the contest. 

Secondus, who had emerged as the favourite in the consideration of the alleged support of the governors was, last night, huddled in meetings with different caucuses including National Assembly.

The prospects of Secondus, Vanguard gathered last night, was, however, receiving serious challenge mainly from Dokpesi and Adeniran who were building up momentum some party enthusiasts say may only be determined on the convention ground.