The coast seems to be clear for the winner of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primaries held in January 2011, Alhaji Jubrin Isah Echocho, to contest the December gubernatorial elections in Kogi State as PDP flagbearer.
The heat that the January 9 party primary generated within the party created serious ill-feelings among the political gladiators which eventually resulted to media wars and litigations.
Leaders of Kogi State chapter of (PDP) are working round the clock to ensure victory in the forthcoming governorship elections. In a bid to guard against a divided house before the December elections, stakeholders are meeting with aggrieved aspirants in the January primaries.
A group of party elders both within and outside the state had talks with arrowheads of those calling for a fresh party primary. They contend that should a fresh primary be held, it would give the opposition the leverage to latch on the division within the party leading to serious humiliations at the polls. It was therefore, agreed that it was better to reconcile opposing camps.
The three senators from the state are now working with other members of the National Assembly from the state to ensure that there was no fresh primary, so as to uphold the candidature of Echocho and Clarence Olafemi as the running mate. The 25-member of the state House of Assembly may have also reached a consensus to back the duo as some politicians in the state gathered last weekend at Mopa to renew their support for Olafemi as running mate to Echocho.
The reconciliation within the party may have paid off. Sources said 20 governorship aspirants agreed to forgo their ambition. They have been reduced to only two with Isah Kutepa from the West and Adinoyi Ojo from the Central still in the race.
The PDP Deputy Chairman, East Senatorial District, Alhaji Linco Ocheje said: “The resolve to abide by the previous primary of the party was never an affront to any individual or group of persons. We are just calculating that it is best for us to ensure our party’s victory at the general election.”
Though the placid attitude of the Governor Ibrahim over the issue was yet unclear, considering his continued claim that his administration would provide a level playing ground for all the aspirants, some of his aides confirmed his preference for Echocho. One of them said: “When the cheeps are down we know who the gladiators are but definitely not Aaron Baba.”
An opinion leader from Bassa Local Government area, Alhaji Danladi Bello, hammered on the need to eschew disharmony within the state PDP. He called on aggrieved members to work in the collective interest of the party.
