… PDP insists no automatic ticket for Obaseki
…Wike, Tambuwal, Obaseki, other critical stakeholders meeting in Govt Lodge PH
…as Ikhine, Ogbeide-Ihama insist they’re still in the race
Barring any unforeseen development, negotiations are in advance stage for Governor Godwin Obaseki and his deputy Phillip Shaibu to pick their nomination forms from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP within this week.
Thenewsguru.com reliably gathered that critical stakeholders and top party chieftains are in agreement that Obaseki should run under the massive PDP umbrella with other aspirants.
The party leadership of the party held an emergency on Tuesday and Wednesday in Abuja which continued into late night meeting in Rivers State Government Lodge with Governor Nyesom Wike, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Obaseki and other critical stakeholders in attendance.
A source privy to the negotiations told TNG that”Obaseki and his deputy have been given the nod to go ahead to contest alongside other aspirants originally in the party.
Asked whether some aspirants will be asked to step down for Obaseki, he said”Nobody will be persuaded to step down but on their own volition they can negotiate with whoever they so choose to.
“The party will not in anyway intervene but one thing is certain there’s no automatic ticket for him.
“If they all decide to go to battle on Saturday a winner must emerge to fly our flag,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Engr Gideon Ikhine, one of the Frontline contestants in PDP in a national television interview on Wednesday denied stepping down for any aspirant as he is very much in the race.
Also, Hon Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, an Engineer, said he is very much in the race and battle-ready to face any contestant in the PDP guber race.