• As Osoba warns APC against complacency

From Paul Osuyi, Asaba and Laide Raheem, Abeokuta

THE People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has again vowed to dislodge the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in the 2019 general elections.
The opposition party vowed to convincingly win the presidential election which it lost in 2015 after 16 years of controlling the government at the federal level.
Chairman of the PDP’s 2017 Special Non-Elective National Convention and Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, restated the commitment of his party to regain power in 2019 during a meeting of the committee in Abuja yesterday.
In a press release made available to newsman in Asaba, Okowa said the PDP has realised areas it didn’t meet up with the expectations of Nigerians and has vowed to make corrections and provide Nigerians with good governance, anchored on accountability, rule of law and improved welfare of the citizenry.
“Yesterday we were inaugurated with the task of organising a successful National Convention for our great party. It is our hope that the various committees will set out to work immediately as we have barley few days to go. “As an organised party, I have confidence in our leaders of the various sub-committees that we will be able to deliver a successful national convention that we can all be proud of.
“I trust in your abilities because I have seen a good number of committed party members who are dedicated to the cause of ensuring we return to power in 2019.
“Our party is back alive and with the national convention, PDP will send a very strong message that will make Nigerians realise that we are very much ready to take over power come 2019,” he said.  Members of the planning committee include Barr Kelechi Igwe, John Jonah, Deputy Governors of Ebonyi and Bayelsa States and Chairmen, Deputy Chairmen, Secretaries and Deputy Secretaries of all the Sub-Committees who attended the meeting.
Meanwhile, former governor of Ogun State and leader of the APC, Chief Olusegu Osoba, yesterday, warned that the party, both at the state and national levels, should not be complacent or underrate the PDP following its threat to spring a comeback in 2019.
The former governor gave the warning while addressing APC faithful in Ogun State at the party’s stakeholders’ meeting held at his Ibara GRA home, Abeokuta.
Osoba said any attempt by the APC to underrate PDP, which he said had been returned to the “original owners”, could spell doom for the party in future elections. He equally warned that unless APC works to manage and handle the 46 governprship aspirants in Ekiti State, the party will not be able to take over the state from PDP, especially with Governor Ayodele Fayose leading the state.