2019 Elections: Tinubu In Sokoto For Talks With Tambuwal, Wammako As IBB Hosts PDP Leaders

The National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has visited Sokoto stae where he met with Gov. Aminu Tambuwal and his predecessor, Sen. Aliyu Wamakko for what he called ‘a family meeting’.

This was as the National Chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Uche Secondus, led some members of the National Executive committee of the party to Niger state on a courtesy visit on former military President General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB).

Babangida, who spoke in Minna, Niger State at the weekend while receiving members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP led by its National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, also expressed satisfaction with the rebranding so far achieved by the PDP ahead of the 2019 general elections.

A statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, quoted Babangida as having expressed support for the reforms so far initiated by PDP including the resolve to avoid imposition.

“I am happy at your assurances that there will be no imposition in all your primary elections. It is all about choice and you have promised to provide the best choice,” he said.

Tinubu, who heads the Presidential Reconcilition Committee of the APC was accompanied by another chieftain, Alhaji idi Farouk as he held a two-hour closed-door meeting with his hosts at both the Government House and Wamakko’s residence.

The meeting was later expanded to include Deputy Governor Ahmed Aliyu and National Vice Chairman of APC (North West), Malam Inuwa Abdulkadir.

Speaking briefly to reporters after the meeting, Tinubu said: “Family members meet regularly to talk to each other and I’m here for that purpose.

“We had a family talk, in talks of today, tomorrow and the future of our country and our ruling APC.”

On his part, Secondus was accompanied on the visit by the National Secretary, Alhaji Umar Ibrahim Tsauri; National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Abdullahi Maibasira; National Financial Secretary, Austin Akobundu; National Organising Secretary Ambassador Ibrahim Kazaure; National Vice Chairman North, and the party’s Spokesman, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan.

Secondus briefed Babangida about the efforts being made by the leadership to reposition the party for the tasks ahead declaring that “the PDP is ready for the 2019 general elections.”

The National Executive committee also expressed gratitude to IBB for what was described “as the role he played before and after the crisis” and especially during the national convention of the partyduring which he told the former Nigerian leader that “the PDP is ready for the 2019 general elections.

It was learnt that General Babangida restated his belief in the PDP and assured the visiting team that he would always give the party the necessary support.

While commending the elective National Convention of the PDP, the former president noted that not a few Nigerians believed that the national convention would hold, adding however that the outcome was successful.