How PDP Senators Blame Govs For Party’s Failure

Some senators of the ruling Peoples Democratic (PDP) have blamed the poor performance of the party in the last Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections on the recklessness and excesses of the state governors.

The senators, who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity on the performances of their party in the just-concluded polls, attributed the party’s woes to self-inflicted problems and impunity on the part of their leaders, with particular emphasis on the state governors.

One of such senators, who is also a ranking member of the Upper Chamber from the North Central, alleged that the party surrendered its structure to the state governors, the development he said led to anger and frustrations among party members. He said the only way to express dissatisfaction was through protest votes which heavily profited the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), in the general elections held across the country four days ago.

In another development, an APC Senator representing Osun Central, Prof. Sola Adeyeye expressed satisfaction with the voting pattern in the South-West. He said: “The South- West has shown itself again. From 1951, the South-West has never been monolithic.

The only time that the South-West came close to being monolithic was 1979.” He further noted that the South-West in the 50s was split between the Action Group (AG) and the National Council for Nigerian Citizens (NCNC). His words: “When you look at the votes return from the zone, you see the only place in the South where there is pluralism of choice. In the South- East and South-South where 90 per cent are voting, for one party, you ask yourself, what kind of democracy is this. “I am proud that the South-West has continued to live in tradition of political liberalism where from the same community, you can have 55 per cent to 45 per cent.

That was how it was with Azikiwe and Awolowo. “Zik, an Igbo man, was contesting from the Mushin area of Lagos in Yoruba land. Zik almost became Premier of Western Region in 1952. “The wish of the people must prevail in this election. Anybody who does not allow the will of the people to prevail, would be consumed by the wrath of the people and would become history.

The winner must be declared to avoid chaos.” Meanwhile, the current configuration of members of the incoming 8th Senate has changed based on the National Assembly election results, which would now make the APC emerging as the majority party in the apex chamber. Based on the available results, the APC would now tentatively have 63 members; PDP, 46.