A member of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Daisy Danjuma, has said her endorsement of Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki’s second term aspiration was “personal.”
Mr Obaseki is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“I owe nobody apology for endorsing the second term aspiration of Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo,” Mrs Danjuma, wife of former defence minister Theophilus Danjuma, told journalists in Benin City.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Mrs Danjuma, a former senator, had, in Lagos on Sunday, endorsed Mr Obaseki during a town hall meeting organised for the governor in Lagos.
The endorsement has drawn the ire of the state chapter of the party who felt that the former senator’s stance was not proper.
“I have the right to support whoever I choose to. I am a member of the PDP. I have never left the PDP or decamped to any party like others.
“It is my right to free comment and I have exercised that,” she said.
The Edo PDP, in a statement, disassociated itself from Mrs Danjuma’s decision to support Mr Obaseki for second term, and asked her to resign her position.
It said the comments, discussions and purported endorsements credited to Mrs Danjuma were her private thoughts and do not reflect the thoughts of Edo PDP.
The Edo PDP said it was “abnormal and not politically savvy for party leaders to endorse aspirants of another party other than the candidate of their party.”
In a statement signed by the Publicity Secretary, Chris Nehikhare, the PDP stated that being a member of the BOT conferred some rights and privileges that should not be abused.
The statement said it was an abuse of such rights and privileges to openly and publicly endorse a candidate of another party.
Mr Nehikhare said the statement of endorsement is a “morale-damper” to the hard working, committed and loyal men, women and youths of Edo PDP.
“At the appropriate time and in accordance with our party’s constitution, a credible PDP candidate will be nominated to contest the Edo 2020 governorship election to liberate the state from political arrogance, poverty, insecurity and unemployment.
“To all Edo people, members and supporters of PDP, you will have a choice to make between the umbrella of comfort and the broom of hardship.
A PDP government will liberate our state from the APC government that is insensitive to the plight of our people,” he said.
(NAN)
