Contrary to media reports on Thursday indicating that former President Goodluck Jonathan and other PDP party chieftains were kicking against the re-election of Kogi State governor, Idris Wada, the former President has dismissed the statement as the handiwork of mischief-makers.
Former President Jonathan who spoke to Breaking Times on Friday, September 11, 2015 noted that at no point did he make any of the statements credited to him in a news report published by The Nation newspapers.
The Nation newspaper had reported on Thursday, September 10, 2015 that former President Jonathan and some of the old power blocks within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are against Kogi State Governor, Capt. Idris contesting for a second term on the party’s ticket.
According to the report, former President Jonathan and his supporters accuse Wada of being responsible for the party’s defeat by the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the presidential election.
But former President Jonathan has since denied making any such statement. According to him, “The Kogi State gubernatorial election will be a keenly contested one and you should expect any of these kind of media propaganda. I am not the one conducting the primary. Even when I was President, I never interfered in issues like party primaries. The PDP delegates in Kogi will decide that under a free and fair primary. Please ignore mischief-makers who are using my name to cause disaffection in the media.”
Meanwhile, the Kogi State governor, Idris Wada has also disclaimed reports that he was under pressure to step down from the race. According to Governor Wada who spoke to Breaking Times on Friday, “It is totally incorrect that I am under pressure to step down from the governorship race. Pressure from where? It is those sponsoring these lies against me who are under pressure. Not me.”
The National Working Committee of the PDP on Wednesday postponed the PDP Kogi governorship primary to Monday earlier scheduled to hold on Thursday. A statement from the party cited logistic concerns.
However, inside reports confirmed by Breaking Times on Friday indicate that the party was making a last move to reconcile Governor Wada and other contenders for the party’s ticket in Kogi State in attempts to produce a consensus candidate.
PDP governors across Nigeria have also thrown their weight behind Wada’s re-election according to media reports.
