PDP Governors Throw Caution To The Winds, Hold Party’s Congresses After Announcing Social Distancing To Combat COVID-19

Governors under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Saturday defied global cautions of restricted public gatherings over Coronavirus (Covid-19), and held local government congresses in their states.

BIGPEN reports that this comes a day after the governors including that of Delta, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, Rivers, Nyesom Wike, Akwa-Ibom, Emmanuel Udom, Bayelsa, Sen. Douye Diri had placed limitation on social gatherings including shutting down schools.

The development is in departure of their stance as opposition party to combat the contagious pandemic which has grossly affected global economy and health sector.

Thousands of PDP faithfuls led by the National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus had gathered at their respective states for the congress which reports say witnessed multitude of people.

The congresses are segmented state by state according to PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) 88th meeting which approved the time table and schedule of activities for the year 2020 party congresses and subsequent deadline for names submission to INEC from the ward, local government, state and zonal levels.

In Rivers, reports say over 3534 delegates including Governor Nyesom Wike gathered in an event centre in Port Harcourt for Saturday’s PDP state congress, a day after the governor ordered schools across the state to be shut and religious bodies to restrict activities but not before Monday 24 March, apparently to allow for the Saturday’s congress.

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The case was the same in Delta where the congress was held in the 25 local government areas of the state, a days after Governor Okowa reeled out preventive measures including a stay at home order to students/pupils a week time.

This development comes at a time prominent pastors in the country had decided to conduct Sunday services online and on television stations in compliance with the directive of government banning all gatherings, including religious gatherings to curb the spread of coronavirus.

The virus which started in Wuhan, China in the late 2019, according to reports has claimed many lives with many nations shutting down completely to prevent further spread of the deadly virus.