PDP: Dokpesi accuses governors of hijacking convention

Chief Raymond Dokpesi, a chairmanship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has accused the governors of hijacking the party’s convention. Addressing reporters at Eagle Square, Abuja, on Saturday, Dokpesi described the process as unfair. He said delegates were given a list of candidates to support, and that the organisers of the convention had become helpless.

“Since we started voting about three hours ago, every delegate that is available has been provided with copies of what you have here. They call it ‘Unity List’ and all the names on the list are number one in all the cubicles for voting and this is supposed to be a list prepared by the governors,” he said.

“I have personally approached Gabriel Suswam, former governor of Benue state, who is involved in the management of the electoral process. He told me that he was taking necessary steps. He even told me that he collected this list from a governor who was distributing it.

“I also approached Governor Okowa of Delta state who is the chairman of the convention committee. He is also helpless. The names you find here is not unlikely what would be announced at the end of the day.

“The chairman of the convention committee said he is aware of the whole thing but there is little he can do. He is overwhelmed… This election has been seriously marred.” Earlier, Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers state, said governors reserve the right to support candidates of their choice.

“I have a right to support any candidate of my choice, and I do not see how that can be said to be imposition,” he said. “Making statements that some people have hijacked the party is not correct, with all due respect, we are not playing sentiments, the people know what they want.”