• 148 members to work in nine strategy committees

Last Thursday’s judgement on Edo state PDP governorship primary by Justice Inyang Ekwo is a distraction and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has resolved to appeal against it, chairman of the PDP National Campaign Council for Edo State, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, has said.

Fintiri who spoke during the inaugural meeting of the campaign council at PDP national headquarters in Abuja where nine strategy committees were constituted to undertake special roles towards actualizing PDP’s victory in the September 21 governorship election, also described the judgement as a ‘child’s play’ that cannot stop PDP’s victory.

During the event, party leaders introduced two   defectors – former Deputy   Commissioner of Police and ex-National President of the Road Transport Employers’ Association (RTEAN), Alhaji  Musa Isiwele who said that he just led 5, 200 All Progressives Congress members to join the Asue Oghodalo campaign along with former Edo State Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Francis Inegbeniki who said that he only knew the APC governorship candidate as a welder in Jos, years ago, as latest additions to the party’s army of experienced campaigners.

In his address to members of the Edo State PDP National Campaign Council and party stakeholders, Governor Fintiri who said that the task ahead of the campaign council won’t be easy further stated that immediately after the launch of PDP governorship campaign in Edo State, many members will remain in the state until election day.

“Like I said, this is not an easy assignment, it requires a lot of sacrifice and commitment on our part and for us to have accepted this appointment, I know also that we have really agreed to do whatever is required of us to win the election.

“We are all politicians, the only thing we understand in politics is to win elections and that is why there is no second position in any election; you either win or you are lost but in this outing, we are out to win.

“And yes, there is a little setback, temporarily but God will see us through it; the court judgement of three days ago, anybody who perused and looks through the entire process, you know that is a child’s play,” Fintiri stated, adding that PDP has resolved to immediately go ahead with an appeal against the judgement.

In his speech, PDP National Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN) who said that the ‘somersault’ done by Justice Ekwo does not invalidate Edo state PDP governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo’s candidature also urged party stakeholders not to feel dismayed.

In a brief speech, PDP governorship candidate in Edo state, Asue Ighodalo who expressed concerns about current indicators and distractions also expressed hope that the capacity and experience of those in the PDP National Campaign Council for Edo state will see things through.

His words: “It is not going to be easy, it is going to be very difficult, we are already seeing the signs; it is going to be a difficult election; not on the issues, but on the distractions but sometimes, the distractions  are more difficult to deal with than the issues.

“But I know we have leaders who are more than capable to set the ball rolling and to lift us higher than some others, so, I am truly grateful.”