Battle For 2019 Presidential Election Has Started - PDP Chairman

               Ali Modu Sheriff, National
Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,
said, yesterday, that the battle for 2019
general election had started in earnest.
This came as former Senate President,
Senator David Mark, raised the hopes of the
PDP, that the inability of ruling All
Progressives Congress, APC, to find what he
described as compass to navigate the ship
of the state and respond appropriately to
the yearnings of Nigerians was an ample
opportunity for the party to bounce back to
power.
Appealing to aggrieved stakeholders of the
party to put aside their differences, the
chairman said PDP could not afford to
remain divided if its desired goal was to be
achieved.
He also distanced himself from the
comment made by Inuwa Bwala, his media
aide, regarding the call for Sheriff to step
down.
Bwala had referred to the stakeholders, who
made the demand as
“self-styled” elders,
threatening to report Jerry Gana, former
Minister of Information and leader of the
group, to the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission, EFCC, for allegedly
defrauding the PDP to the tune of N500
million.
*Sheriff
But reacting at a media briefing in Jalingo,
Taraba State capital, Sheriff said: “As a well
cultured and astute politician, I would never
make any comment that would ridicule the
party.”
He added that it was not in his character to
join issues with highly respected elders,
noting that he never authorised any of his
aides to react to issues raised by the
aggrieved elders.
Sheriff said the elders deserved the right to
complain about issues they considered
inimical to the progress of the PDP.
He explained that the present leadership of
the party was poised to lend a listening ear
to all shades of opinions, with a view to
strengthening it to face the challenges
ahead.
“Under our leadership and the support and
encouragement of stakeholders and
supporters, PDP will definitely bounce back
in 2019,” he said.
Mark calls for truce to resolve party
pmpasse
Meanwhile, former Senate President,
Senator David Mark, has raised the hopes of
the PDP, that the inability of the ruling All
Progressives Congress, APC, to find what he
described as compass to navigate the ship
of the state and ultimately respond
appropriately to the yearnings of Nigerians
was an ample opportunity for the party to
bounce back to power.
According to Senator Mark, if the party must
come back to power, following its defeat by
the APC, after 16 years in government, there
was urgent need for a truce among party
members ahead of the May 21 national
convention.
He also advised the party to avoid the
pitfalls of the past, such as imposition of
candidates against the wishes of the
majority.
Mark in a statement by his Media Assistant,
Paul Mumeh, said: “We are returning the
party to the people and let the people
decide. Nigerians can now spot the
difference.
"The PDP is still the right choice. Therefore,
we must respond positively and ultimately
return the nation to the path of glory once
more.”
On North Central zonal congress
Speaking to the North Central delegates to
the PDP zonal congress in Abuja, weekend,
Mark said he was worried by the emerging
disaffection within the PDP ahead of its
2016 national convention.
He said: “I think we have realized our past
mistakes and learned our lessons. We
cannot afford crisis or disaffection within
our fold any more.
“It is time for all genuine men and women
of our party to make the necessary sacrifice
and work honestly towards a united and
more cohesive party.”
Mark, who noted that there were bound to
be disagreements in any human endeavour,
said: "We must put aside sentiments,
personal interest and reconcile honestly and
genuinely for the larger interest."
Senator Mark craved credible electoral
process that would produce credible and
acceptable candidates for elections, adding
that if things were done the right way,
democracy would thrive and endure for the
good of all.
At the North Central Zonal Congress
elections conducted by former Minister of
State for Education, Mr. Kenneth Gbagi-led
panel, Mr. Theophilus Shan was elected
Zonal Chairman, Mr. Maurice Tsar, zonal
Secretary, while Mr. Joel Adagadzu was
elected zonal organizing secretary, among
others. All the officials were elected through
a consensus .
Former governors of Benue State, Gabriel
Suswam; Niger, Abdulkadir Kure and
Babangida Aliyu; Senators Jerry Useni;
Suleiman Adokwe; Philip Aduda and scores
of House of Representatives PDP members
from North Central zone were among those
who attended the congress.