Why PDP Governors Deserted Party, Atiku, At Election Tribunal

By Gideon Njoku

Uche Secondus, the PDP National Chairman, cut a lonely figure at the venue of the Presidential Election Tribunal on Wednesday. He was there without any support from any of his Party’s governors. That was unlike his APC counterpart, Adams Oshiomhole, who was surrounded not only by party big wigs, but by a couple of APC governors.

Speculations have been rife as to why they all abandoned their party and their candidate on such a crucial day.

One of the reasons, according to one of them, is that they have all moved on, and are looking forward to 2023 where, at least, five of them are already angling to contest for the office of the President, and would rather not waste time on the outcome of the 2019 election.

Another PDP stakeholder told thesourceng.com that none of the governors was present because they knew, in advance, that nothing was going to come out of the case, and that they would rather not waste their time on a lost case.

Another said they boycotted because their candidate,  Atiku, has  been away to Dubai since the election,  and was not, for once,  present during the hearings at the Tribunal.

“There was no leadership or inspiration from him. He was absent all through, leaving his running mate, Peter Obi, to carry the can.”

Yet, not a few people said that the governors did not behave well, and that whatever was the case, they ought to have shown some solidarity with the candidate. They say the party is likely to approach the Supreme Court a divided house.

In the next few days, political pundits say, a number of them are likely to follow the foot steps of Rivers State Governor and congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari on his victory at the Election Tribunal.