Twenty one lawmakers of the People Democratic Party (PDP) in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly and three senatorial candidates of the party in the forthcoming 2015 general elections on Friday shunned the inauguration of the state gubernatorial campaign organization.

The party inaugurated the campaign organisation for the forthcoming 2015 general elections. A Senator, Solomon Ewuga, is the Director General of the Campaign organization.

The three senatorial candidates: Ahmed Wadada of the Nasarawa west
senatorial district, Philip Gyunka of Nasarawa North and Suleiman
Adokwe of Nasarawa south all failed to show up.

However, four of the House of Assembly members – Raphael Saka of Kokona East constituency and Peter Umbucho of Akwanga North constituency and Nathaniel Agyo Mesa of Lafia East Constituency and Francis Orogu representing Keane constituency visited the party office few minutes after the commencement of the inauguration.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the absence was also fallout of the party’s controversial primaries last year that saw some members defecting to other parties. Many members still within the party have reportedly lost faith in the party’s fortune in the state.

Already many prominent people such as former senator John Danboyi, defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) while Labaran Maku, the former Minister of Information left for all progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) where he is now the gubernatorial candidate.

Despite the hitches, Solomon Ewuga, the Director General of the campaign organization pledged that the team would ensure that President Goodluck Jonathan and Yusuf Agabi emerge winner at the forthcoming polls.

Mr. Ewuga urged both party executives and other supporters to cooperate with the campaign team to take the party to victory at the poll.

Efforts to get the reaction from Speaker of the State Assembly Must Mohammed (PDP – Nasarawa Central) proved abortive as he was said to have travelled to a remote village in his constituency attending to another PDP event.

A member of the PDP state working committee who pleaded anonymity said
that most of the candidates have since commenced their campaigns and have resolved to remain in their constituency to prepare grounds for the coming of the campaign train.

The State chairman of the PDP, Yunana Iliya, however, tendered apologies for those absent especially the former governor Aliyu Akwe Doma who came third at the gubernatorial primaries.