….declines desire to contest 2027 presidential poll
Senator representing Gombe North and former Governor of Gombe State, Dr Ibrahim Dankwambo, on Sunday night affirmed the leadership of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President of Nigeria in the North despite defecting to African Democratic Congress recently.
Dankwambo made this disclosure during his address at an expanded stakeholders’ meeting of Peoples Democratic Party held in Gombe.
He noted that the meeting was organised to keep members abreast of recent National Executive Committee meeting in Abuja adding that the PDP remains the only party that has completed congresses from ward to zonal levels.
Dankwambo said, “In a meeting held before National Executive Committee meeting; it’s important to enlighten our members about the issues at the national level.
“I want to assure our people that as at today it’s only PDP that has completed congresses from ward, local government, state and our zonal for the ones that are due had been concluded and we have fixed the date for our national convention that will conclude other things about party matters.”
Speaking further Dankwambo disclosed that Atiku remains a huge asset in the region, urging members to support the sustenance of PDP, “It’s time to build our party as at today, it’s not about leadership of the party but we have leaders we recognise like in the north; Atiku Abubakar is our leader, we love and like him and by virtue of his position as a former vice president is our leader whether he is in PDP or ADC, Kashim Shettima is our leader he is our vice president and he is from this zone we love and like him. We hope he comes to our party including Namadi Sambo is our leader,” Dankwambo added.
Speaking on the urge to contest presidential election, Dankwambo noted that he doesn’t have the aspiration.
“I don’t have the intention now to contest for office of President. I have done it before but as at today I don’t have the intention to contest now. Let’s finish building our party only God gives power,” he added.
Speaking, Senator Anthony Siyako, denied that the PDP has been dismembered following the coalition and defection.
Siyako who is a senator representing Gombe South said, “We want to disabuse people’s mind; seeing all of us here, members of the national assembly, state assembly it shows that all is well.”
Commenting on the Wike factor as stumbling block to the development of the party, Siyako added, “Wike is a single person in the whole system, if PDP were a one man business he will be a problem, PDP is not a one man’s business. I have not seen any party that has consolidated and grew from the root like PDP all others are meeting point of some people along the way and therefore to disperse is easier. “
