Governor Obaseki receiving his membership card of his new political party, the PDP, in the Benin-City, Edo State office of the party on Thursday
By Ayo Kehinde
Governor Godwin Obaseki, who formally defected to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo state on Friday has declared himself the leader of the party in the state, citing the Constitution of the party.
“I am here to go through the formalities of registering as a member of this great party, I automatically become the leader of the party, that is the constitution. I read it thoroughly last night”, said the governor at the PDP Secretariat on First East Circular Road where he was received by the National Vice Chairman, South South of the PDP, Chief Emmanuel Ogidi, state Chairman of the party, Mr Anthony Aziegbemi, other party leaders and an excited crowd of members and supporters.
The governor who pledged to abide by the party’s rules and regulations, promised to lead the party to victory in the governorship poll holding in September.
“I am happy that you have finally exited the oppressive ruling party and joined the truly democratic party in Nigeria. I have no doubt that your coming into the PDP would further strengthen our party to mobilize the people behind the common cause of deepening democratic ethos in our country and restoring prosperity to our people.
“The PDP that you have come to join today is a reformed and repositioned party – one that lives by its name of being a truly democratic party.
“I have an unflinching conviction that your joining the party would be an asset to the PDP. Together, we can work to extinct every form of undemocratic tendencies in our body politic and realign the good people of Edo State to the moving train of democracy and restoration of good governance to the country”, Atiku said.
” I want to inform you that I ma ready to lead the party to victory,”
” I am here to inform you that upon my resignation from the APC, having consulted widely from within the state and across the country, I have decided to become a member of the PDP. As has been demonstrated, this party is rooted in democratic practices; it believes in justice and fairness and respects its members. Today is not the day I will make a speech. You will hear from me soon.
“I want to assure you that I am prepared to lead the party to victory. I will provide a leadership that will not only put PDP ahead in Edo State, but as a ruling party in Edo State, we will make sure that the level of progress, growth and participation in the political system by our people is unrivalled in this country”
Meanwhile former Vice President of Nigeria and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2019 elections, Atiku Abubakar and governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State have congratulated Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State for joining the PDP.
Atiku in a press statement by his media office on Friday, welcomed Governor Obaseki to the PDP, a truly people’s party.
The former Vice President expressed confidence that the people of Edo State will be the better for his choice.
The PDP Presidential candidate in the 2019 elections noted that Governor Obaseki was joining the PDP when the party is poised to deliver good governance to the people of Nigeria.
Wike tweeted the photo which is used in this story.
