Mark, Akpabio dismiss alleged split of PDP, say party is intact

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Photo(L-R) Vice-President Namadi Sambo, President Goodluck Jonathan and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio at the PDP Special National Convention in Abuja

Senate President David Mark and Akwa-Ibom State Governor, Chief Godsweill Akpabio have dismissed the alleged split of the party on Saturday in Abuja at the National Convention.

Mark said the PDP was the only true national party in the country, and called for all-round support for it.
He said this at the PDP Special National Convention organised to elect officers into the party`s National Working Committee (NWC).
“Though the party has been criticised by opposition parties, but it is also a fact that politicians from those parties have been decamping to PDP on a daily basis.
“This is because PDP remains the only true national party in the country,” he said.
Mark however assured that the National Assembly would continue to legislate in the best interest of Nigerians to ensure the success of Federal Government`s transformation programme.
Also, the Chairman of PDP Governors Forum, Gov. Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, has insisted that the party remained a united group in spite of its series of crises.
“In PDP, there is no shaking,’’ he said, adding that the party had positively impacted on Nigerians since it came to power at the national level in 1999.
“This is clear in the development of infrastructure across the country,’’ Akpabio added.
He assured President Goodluck Jonathan of the support of PDP state governors, and called on him to remain focused and not to be distracted by the opposition.
“The enemies you see today, you will see them no more. We will go hand in hand with you to ensure that Nigeria remains united and successful,’’ the governor said.
Also speaking at the convention, Alhaji Inuwa Garuba, Speaker, Gombe State House of Assembly, said the state was poised to partner with the Federal Government.
He said this was to help in ensuring the success of the Jonathan administration’s transformation agenda.
Garuba who is also the Chairman, Conference of Speakers said in spite of the country`s diversity, there was a need for all hands to be on deck to ensure its success.
He, therefore, emphasised the need for co-operation amongst Nigerians to ensure peaceful co-existence in the country.
Earlier, the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Bamaga Tukur, while declaring the convention open, had commended the PDP state governors for their commitment at ensuring development in their states.
He however advised them to do more, saying this was the only way the party could remain relevant and in power.
Tukur noted that the convention marked the first time a political party in the country was ensuring that due process was followed in electing its national officers.
He said it was also remarkable that in spite of the party`s internal challenges it had ensured “giant strides’’ in all sectors of the economy.