A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen has said that the process towards a consensus presidential candidate for the forthcoming 2023 election has collapsed.
This is contained in a statement by the Director-General, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen Campaign Organization, Lamis Shehu Dikko made available to newsmen on Sunday.
While noting that the campaign organisation was aware of Prof. Ango Abdullahi-led committee’s decision to announce Bauchi governor Bala Mohammad and Senator Bukola Saraki as the preferred Northern consensus candidates for the PDP, it however stressed that the aspirants involved could not reach a compromise amongst themselves, resulting in the decision of Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, and Governor Aminu Tambuwal to discontinue the process.
“The campaign team of Mohammed Hayatu-deen and its principal are aware of the decision by the Prof. Ango Abdullahi-led committee to announce Governor Bala Mohammad and Senator Bukola Saraki as the preferred Northern consensus candidates for the Peoples Democratic Party.
“After this announcement, we consulted with the Northern Elders’ Forum and agreed that the campaign of Mohammed Hayatu-Deen will now be undertaken independently to maintain the sanctity and integrity of the Peoples Democratic Party.
“For the record, we would like to state that the process of arriving at a consensus candidate had collapsed. The candidates involved could not reach a compromise amongst themselves, resulting in the decision of our principal, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, and Governor Aminu Tambuwal to discontinue the process.
“The announcement we witnessed yesterday was not based on the principles of equity and transparency, which we believe should lead the country and the party into the future. The committee constituted by Prof. Ango Abdullahi is completely faceless and the evaluation criteria is totally subjective.
“It seems to us that this entire charade was designed to achieve a preconceived outcome.
“The focus of our candidate, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, is to prove to our great party and Nigerians in general that he is the best man for the job, as we proceed towards a truly democratic process at the PDP primaries.”
Dikko however said that the lack of consensus amongst the Prof. Ango Abdullahi-led effort and the politicking of other aspirants should not jeopardize the electoral success of the PDP.
“We believe that the lack of consensus amongst the Prof. Ango Abdullahi-led effort and the politicking of other candidates should not jeopardize the electoral success of the Peoples Democratic Party or threaten the peace and prosperity of Nigeria.
“Mohammed Hayatu-Deen is a business professional with years of experience leading successful organizations that have provided jobs and opportunities for millions of Nigerians. He is a man who understands the pains and sufferings of the average Nigerian and has a plan to return our great nation to prosperity.
“Mohammed Hayatu-Deen wants to build a Nigeria that works for everybody. He is the best candidate for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he stated.
