UPDATED: “Our Support For Atiku/Okowa Ticket Sacrosanct” – S’South Govs; We’ll Not Allow G-5 Govs To Go – Okowa

The governors of the South South geopolitical zone have reaffirmed their unwavering support for Atiku Abubakar, the PDP’s presidential candidate, and Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, who is running as his running mate.

The governors, including Okowa (Delta State), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), and Senator Douye Diri (Bayelsa) unanimously affirmed their support for the Atiku/Okowa ticket after a closed door meeting in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital.

Chief Press Secretary to the Bayelsa State Governor, Daniel Alabrah, confirmed this in a statement after the meeting, saying that the governors said the endorsement of the ticket was sacrosanct.

www.bigpenngr.com reports that only Governor Nyesom Wike, the leader of the G-5 governors who are pushing for some certain changes in the political machinery of the party, was absent from the meeting.

In his remarks, Governor Obaseki of Edo State said they were in the state to show support to the government and people of Bayelsa over the recent monster flood that ravaged the state.

He remarked that as a region, their support for the Atiku/Okowa ticket was sacrosanct and that they will do all within their powers to unite the party and go into the election as a strong and united zone.

Also speaking, Governor Douye Diri described the South-South as a stronghold of the PDP, assuring that the party will emerge victorious at all levels in next year’s general election.

He expressed delight over the unity and love among the governors of the region and expressed confidence that the differences in the party, which he described as family issues, will be resolved amicably. 

Governor Diri thanked his colleagues for their support to the state during the recent floods, saying the people of the state will always be grateful to them. 

He said: “I can only say on behalf of the government and the people of Bayelsa State, we appreciate the South-South governors.

“As my brother, the governor of Edo has stated, we are one. In the family there are always dispute. Those disputes do not separate us. We will resolve them and we continue to push on as one.

“South-South is a PDP region. South South is a place where no other party can contend except PDP. I assure you that in all the elections from the presidency to the governorship, the national assembly and the state assembly, PDP will again triumph.”

Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, governor of Delta State and PDP vice presidential candidate, declared that the governors had vowed to back their party in the upcoming presidential election.

He said that the concerns of the G-5 Governors of their party, led by Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, were being addressed..

The PDP presidential candidate and the other five governors will meet soon, according to Okowa.

His words: “We believe that we are one family. There are still issues, and they are being attended to. Very soon, there will be a meeting between the presidential candidate with the G-5 Governors. 

“They are part of the family and we are not going to allow them to go. So, obviously, everything is being put in place to reconcile all differences and move together as a family.