Ahead of the PDP national convention slated for this Saturday, November 15, through Sunday, November 16, delegates from 19 states have arrived in Ibadan, Oyo State. Those already in town include representatives from Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Ebonyi, Enugu, FCT, Imo, Kaduna, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, and Ekiti.
Notwithstanding the internal crisis and conflicting court judgments, all is now set for the convention this Saturday, which promises to be one of the most controversial elective sessions in the history of the party. Already, a faction of the PDP has pulled out of the convention in protest.
The NWC led by the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, last week suspended the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature; and National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, over alleged anti-party activities. The party leaders were suspended after a court decision by Justice James Omotosho, who ruled that the convention should not hold due to the party’s failure to observe its own internal procedures, including proper signing of the notice sent to INEC.
The ruling prevented INEC from monitoring the convention. But shortly, Justice Ladiran Akintola, in an ex parte order, allowed the PDP to go on. The reprieve seemed to be threatened, at least, earlier in the week, when Justice Peter Lifu suspended the convention following a suit by former Jigawa governor Sule Lamido who complained he was refused access to nomination forms.
Once again, Justice Akintola granted an extension of his interim order allowing the event to take place.
By Thursday, the venue of the convention, Lekan Salami Stadium, had worn a festive look as decorations in party colours neared completion, in readiness for over 3,000 delegates expected from across the country, as well as party leaders, stakeholders, and even international observers.
The convention will be electing a new National Chairman, National Secretary, and other members of the NWC and their deputies. Final intense preparations saw campaign posters and banners adorn the inside and outside of the facility.
