Nigeria’s former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has called on leaders and stakeholders of the party to reflect on prevailing challenges and come up with strategies that will enable the PDP to take its dominant place once again.
Politics Nigeria gathered that Atiku made the rallying call in Abuja on Thursday, May 11, at a reception organised for returning and newly-elected governors on the platform of the party.
At the event were newly-elected governors of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, his Plateau and Zamfara States counterparts, Caleb Mutfwang and Dauda Lawal; Taraba State governor-elect, Agbu Kefas as well as Peter Mbah of Enugu State.
The Rivers State governor-elect, Simi Fubara, was absent.
Also, Governors who opposed Atiku’s presidential ambition, under the umbrella of G-5 Governors, boycotted the event.
The G-5 governors are Nyesom Wike of Rives State; Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State; Samuel Ortom of Benue State; Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State; and Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.
None of the five governors sent a representative to the well-attended event or word explaining their absence.
Speaking at the event, Atiku said, “We have a number of challenges. We started as a dominant political party in 1999, but since then, we have been receding. It is time to take stock and find out why we are receding and how we can make sure that our position as the leading political party in the country can be regained.
“This is a very important challenge that requires a whole day seminar so that we can as a party regain our eminent position in the country,” Atiku said.
