The Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party Chairman, Philip Aivoji, has urged PDP gladiators in Edo State not to bring down the roof of the party over the outcome of the governorship primary in the state.

Mr Aivoji told journalists on Tuesday in Lagos that those aggrieved over the emergence of Asue Ighodalo as the candidate of the party for the September 21 governorship election should allow reconciliation in the interest of the party.

The state governor Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu, along with their supporters, had disagreed over who should be supported to clinch the party’s ticket.

Mr Obaseki’s favourite candidate, Mr Ighodalo, emerged as the governorship candidate at the party’s main primary on February 21, while Mr Shaibu, who had tried unsuccessfully to get the governor’s support, emerged at a parallel primary held at his residence.

The development has deepened the division and infighting within the Edo chapter of the party, as Mr Shaibu rejected the emergence of Mr Ighodalo, threatening legal action if he was not declared the party’s candidate.

Reacting, Mr Aivoji said that aggrieved party leaders should not embark on any journey that could undermine the chances of the party in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

“Various PDP gladiators should put their houses together and support the candidate that emerged. That is the only way the Edo people can benefit and they too can benefit. If they miss it, it is going to affect everybody. If anyone cannot be the governor now, you should not bring the roof down. For the sake of the party and for the sake of the incoming generation, we should support one another. Let us rally around the candidate,” he said.

Commending the national leadership of the PDP for efforts to reconcile all aggrieved persons and groups, Mr Aivoji urged various gladiators to think of the party first and embrace peace.

According to him, Mr Ighodalo means well for the state with the plans reeled out for the people, hence the need to rally around him.

He stated, “He (Ighodalo) has experience and knows what to do. He has been part of the system. It is not about trial and error this time round. All gladiators should support him for the sake of the party and the state.’’

Urging Mr Shaibu, the factional PDP candidate that emerged in a parallel party’s primary elections, to support Mr Ighodalo, Mr Aivoji said that aggrieved parties must ensure the PDP retains power in the state.

Mr Aivoji noted that Mr Shaibu could still be governor of the state with patience.

“But what people don’t realise is that there is time. His own time may not be now, but if he is committed, he can still be the governor,” he said.

The PDP National Working Committee has appointed Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Emmanuel Enoidem, as chairman and secretary, respectively, of an 11-member committee tasked with reconciling all aggrieved members in Edo State.

The PDP presented Mr Ighodalo with the Certificate of Return on Tuesday, while Mr Shaibu visited the party’s national headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, asserting himself as the genuine candidate. 

(NAN)