2019 Elections: Win your constituencies, Secondus tasks PDP’s BoT

Secondus attributed PDP’s failure in 2015 presidential election to complacency, saying every BoT member must deliver his or her unit, ward or constituency.

“We must build a consensus and arrangement that you will be rewarded and be recognised when you deliver. We cannot play the type of Abuja politics that made us lose in 2015,” he said.

Secondus said that the BoT should not leave the task of winning 2019 general elections to the younger ones, but give them the support and encouragement necessary to get the desired result.

“Our task now is to focus and remain focused. Our target is to win all the polling units in the country and we will be able to do that, with the strategies in place.

“A popular candidate has emerged. He is grounded in Nigeria. What is left for us to do is to take the message home,” he added.

He expressed optimism that if free and fair elections were conducted in 2019 the PDP would have a landslide victory because people appeared to be tired of the governing All Progressives Congresses (APC).

Responding, the BoT Chairman, Sen. Walid Jibrin congratulated Atiku over his success at the party’s primary election held in Port Harcourt, urging him to reach out to his co-contestants with a view to keeping them in the PDP.

“Now that you are the clear winner you must work with all and embrace everybody in order to win the 2019 election. Our youth and women should never be left behind in the campaign train,” Jibrin said.

He pledged the board’s commitment towards the success of the party’s standard bearer, saying “the BoT wishes to assure you of our free service in order to make you the President of Nigeria in 2019.

“As our Presidential Candidate and without any iota of doubt the President of Nigeria come 2019, you stand to beat any presidential candidates of all the political parties, especially the APC.”

On the choice of running mate for Alhaji Atiku, the BoT Chairman said that consultations were ongoing to select from a zone that would attract more votes, adding that the decision would be made known at the appropriate time.

“We are not wasting time at all. The strategy is that wherever the vice president will come from will translate to additional votes for the party.”

In his remarks, Atiku thanked the party leaders and members for his emergence as PDP’s flagbearer, urging them to gird their loins for the election proper.

He implored the BoT members to use their endowments toward ensuring that the party records resounding success in 2019, stressing the need to take seriously his opponents in the contest.

“I can assure you that I am prepared to work with and reward all of you if we unite together to achieve success.

“I must commend the sense of patriotism displayed by my fellow contestants. From the very day I delivered my acceptance speech, we have been working together.

“I believe it is our duty to provide that sense of unity and leadership to the rest of our party members.”

On his visitation to Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, he described it “as a successful outing”.

“I may not say whether he is a PDP member or not, but he is with us body and spirit.

“Even before he delivered his statement, we retired to his private room where he gave me his statement to go through and possibly edit.

“He said he would launch my campaign to the presidency with a statement. That is vintage Olusegun Obasanjo for you.”

On his part, the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, said that Atiku had set the pace for others to follow with his exemplary leadership.

Saraki said that the party was united in the objective to remove President Muhammad Buhari and replace him with Atiku.

“I can assure you, on behalf of the BoT members, we will give you our total support.

“The meeting with former contestants in the convention, gubernatorial aspirants and stakeholders is sending a strong message across the country that we are united.

“Just one thing remaining, to remove the President,” he said.