The Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu says as a political party, the PDP is very confident that if there are free and fair elections, the PDP will sweep all as it has shown in recent times.
Dr. Ayu said the party would return to the winning ways and could win several states. Also, come next year, the party would win the presidential elections.
The PDP Chairman stated this when he received the United Nations Needs Assessment Mission led by Mr. Serge Kubwimana at the party’s secretariat in Abuja.
“In some of the mid-term elections, despite opposition parties’ many challenges, we came out as the best-performing party.
“We won 44 counselors to the party, and the party in government won only 18 counselors. We won the six local governments, but we could sustain only three, but those three were the leading local governments that constitute the Federal Capital Territory.
So we did very well, including the federal constituencies in about six states. So we’re very confident in a free and fair election,” Dr. Ayu stressed.
NATIONAL CHAIRMAN’S RESOLVE ON THE OUTCOME OF THE FORTHCOMING ELECTIONS
He added with a firm resolve that the party had all it took to be victorious in the coming elections. “The only obstacle in the way we believe is when elections are not conducted freely and fairly.
“If not, this party is capable, up and going, and Nigerians believe in us.
Therefore, your comment to support agencies like the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and several other supportive organisations will be very useful,” said Dr. Ayu.
” I think as an opposition party, we don’t always mind some of the generosity if it comes our way, especially if we’ll have technical support.
So I believe you should support political parties when you do reports on need assessment. We also have dire needs, which could be communicated to you if you consider political parties. It will definitely make more sense if you also include specific extensions to some of the key political parties,” said the PDP Chairman
In his remarks, the leader of the delegation, Mr. Serge Kubwimana, said they were in Nigeria in response to a request for electoral support and to assess the needs of the country and of the critical stakeholders that play a role in elections,
Received a team of the @UN Needs Assessment Mission(NAM) to Nigeria led by Mr. Serge Gakwandi-Kubwimana Head, Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs/Electoral Affairs Division.
Discussed UN support for Nigeria’s upcoming elections.@NigeriaGov pic.twitter.com/vA9zRFp76L— Geoffrey Onyeama (@GeoffreyOnyeama) April 5, 2022
UN REPRESENTATIVE’S REMARK
Mr. Kubwimana said they would also assess the overall context and challenges that may affect the electoral process, and how best the UN could assist the government and the various stakeholders leading up to those elections.
He said, “We were involved in previous electoral cycles going back to 1999, not mistaken, so this is a continuum of that role.
“The leadership of the UN has dispatched the mission in New York. It comprises colleagues from UNDP because, in the country, those are the people that turn our recommendations into actual activities and programs.
“But you also have colleagues from the UN Office in West Africa.
“I’m sure you’re familiar with Dr. Chambers, the then Special Representative for West Africa. He was here a few times to interact with and engage the country’s political actors in leadership.
Someone also represented here is from the Department of Political Affairs of the United Nations through the deputy director of the West Africa division. So as part of our continuous engagement with the country, with the country’s leadership,” Mr. Kubwimana confirmed.
E/Suzan O.
