Barely 24 hours to the Kogi\u00a0 governorship poll, the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) is jittery over the likely outcome of the election.<\/span> The meeting at the Villa followed security reports on alleged poor outing of the PDP at its grand finale rally in Lokoja on Monday.<\/span> At the session, according to sources, were Vice-President Namadi Sambo; Senate\u00a0 President David Mark; outgoing Governor Ibrahim Idris;\u00a0 PDP Governorship candidate Capt. Idris Wada; ex-PDP National Chairman\u00a0 Senator Ahmadu Ali;\u00a0 winner of the January primary Jibrin Isa Echocho; Senator Smart Adeyemi, all National Assembly members elected on the platform of the PDP from Kogi State and governorship aspirant, AVM Salihu Atawodi.<\/span><\/p>\n Also there were PDP running mate Mr. Yomi Awoniyi; a former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih; Chief John Odawn; the Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje; and all members of the National Working Committee (NWC).<\/span> \u201cAll the party leaders were also jittery about revelations on the alleged health challenges of the party\u2019s governorship candidate, Capt. Idris Wada based on records from the University College Hospital, Ibadan.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThey had fears that even if Wada wins the poll, the final ticket may go to the ACN based on the health records.<\/span> \u201cAli said the strategy was wrong and it has been posing\u00a0 a major threat to PDP\u2019s victory.\u201d<\/span> \u201cThe Senate President shocked everybody when he said the leadership of the Action Congress of Nigeria has been wishing that Idris Wada be made a candidate of the PDP because of his health records so that they could win the poll on a platter of gold.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHe said he had a strong suspicion that the ACN might make an issue of Wada\u2019s health\u00a0 even if the PDP emerges victorious.<\/span>
President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday night convened a meeting of warring PDP chieftains at the Presidential Villa to save his party from defeat.<\/span><\/p>\n
The meeting started at about 9pm and ended at 11.40pm. The atmosphere was moody as party leaders expressed fears that they might lose Kogi to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), it was learnt.<\/span><\/p>\n
A source said: \u201cThe meeting was at the instance of Mr. President because of what he saw at the grand finale of the PDP for its governorship candidate on Monday.<\/span><\/p>\n
\u201cBut the preoccupation of the leaders was on how to win the election since the health matters have been laid before a Federal High Court.\u201d<\/span>
Another source said: \u201cAll the leaders were concerned about the inroad of the ACN. The ex-National Chairman of the PDP opened discussions by faulting the manner in which the party\u2019s candidate, Echocho, who won the primaries in January was substituted by Governor Ibrahim Idris at the last minute.<\/span><\/p>\n
Anenih also acknowledged that the ACN has a formidable structure because of the injustice which trailed the emergence of Wada.<\/span>
\u201cIn his usual frank manner, Anenih also faulted the governor but he gave a ray of hope that the situation is redeemable if all stakeholders could bury their hatchets.<\/span><\/p>\n
\u201cSenator Smart Adeyemi said the outgoing governor is the problem of the party in the state.<\/span>
\u201cHe said PDP members of the National Assembly from the state met the governor four times on the danger of substituting Echocho but he was adamant.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n