With the glaring absence of more than half its governor at its highly publicized national conference yesterday in Abuja, the question now on the lips of many is has the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) really gotten over its defeat at the last general elections?
The conference, aimed at re-branding and re-positioning the opposition party ahead of 2019 general elections, was boycotted by not just its governors but also former President Goodluck Jonathan, his erstwhile deputy Namadi Sambo, former national chairman Adamu Mu’azu, and former Senate President David Mark.
Also conspicuously absent at the one-day conference, which held at the ThisDay dome, were PDP founding members such as former Finance Minister Alhaji Adamu Ciroma, former Board of Trustees (BOT) chairman, Chief Tony Anenih, former Vice President, Chief Alex Ekwueme, former governors Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Ali Modu Sheriff (Borno) and Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna), among others.
Speaking on why he boycotted the event, Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State explained that he was observing three days of fasting and prayers ahead of his 55th birthday this weekend.
Making this known in a chat with reporters at his Afao Ekiti country home shortly after he was conferred with the title of ‘Leader of opposition in the country’ by the state House of Assembly, Fayose said he need the quiet to be with his God and pray.
He, however, said though he might not be at the event physically, he was with them in spirit.
“Some of my commissioners were there and the chairman of my party is also there. I may not be there physically but I am with them morally and I supported them financially”, Governor Fayose added.