The political atmosphere
in the country lately has
become abuzz with high
pitch activities following the
ongoing Special National
Convention of the ruling Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP, in Abuja, the
Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
The event holding at the Eagle Square
is intended to fill existing vacancies in the
National Working Committee, NWC,
and the National executive Committee,
NEC, of the party following the report
of the Independent National Electoral
Commission, INEC, which pointed out
the lapses in the 2012 national convention
of the party.
The affected offices include the Deputy
National Chairman, National Publicity
Secretary, Assistant National Secretary,
National Organizing Secretary and
National Woman Leader, National
Treasurer amongst many others.
INEC based its decision on the ground
that the conduct of the elections did
not follow the party`s guidelines and
Constitution. The candidates were chosen
by affirmation and consensus instead of
through the process of election.
The Independent National Electoral
Commission, INEC, which manages
the electoral process in Nigeria, had
drawn the attention of the party to the
alleged breaches and irregularities that Continued on page 16
characterized the nullified elections.
As a responsible political party which
believes in the rule of law and due process,
the PDP under the dynamic leadership of
Alhaji (Dr.) Bamanga Tukur in its wisdom
decided to go back to the starting blocks
as it were with a view to ensuring that the
right thing was done.
At a well-attended National Executive
Committee meeting of the party presided
over by Alhaji Tukur, a Special Nation Convention Planning
Committee with the erudite
Professor Jerry Gana as
Chairman and Deputy
Senate President, Senator Ike
Ekweremadu as Secretary
was set up to organize the
convention to fill the said
vacancies.
Other members of the
Committee include the
following elders and leaders:
They are Dr. Musa Babayo;
Ambassador Aminu Wali,
Governors Shehu Shema
(Katsina), Godswill Akpabio
(Akwa Ibom), Sir Philip
Salau and Senator Florence
Ita-Giwa, Senator Aisha
Jummai Alhassan amongst
many others.
In other to ensure
that the convention was
properly organized and
seamless, Professor Gana
and his team put in place
14 sub-committees. One
of such sub-committees
is Publicity chaired by the
Deputy Speaker, House of
Representatives, Rt. Hon.
Emeka Ihedioha.
The sub-committee
was saddled with
the responsibility of
publicizing the activities
of the convention. Other
sub-committees include
the following: Security;
Accommodation/Transport
and Logistics; Contact and
Mobilization; Accreditation;
Finance; Protocol; Welfare/
Entertainment; Venue
& Venue Preparation;
Screening; Electoral;
Essential Materials; Security;
and Secretariat.
The planning and execution
of the convention has been
very flawless given the
methodical and professional
manner Professor Jerry Gana
and his team has gone about
the entire project.
At a meeting he held
on Tuesday at the PDP
National Headquarters with
all the chairmen of the subcommittees,
Professor Gana
seriously emphasized the
need for a transparent, hitchfree
and flawless convention
that would be memorable.
The briefings given by
the various sub-committee
chairmen indicated that all
was set for good outing by
the ruling party.
Professor Gana did not
fail to remind his audience
and party delegates that the
PDP was founded on noble
ideological principles with
emphasis on democracy,
good governance and rule of
law.
He noted with pride that
the PDP has succeeded in
the last 14 years in deepening
democratic values in Nigeria,
adding that there was no
viable alternative political
platform to the PDP.
He observed that
opposition political parties
that lay claim to being
progressive were nothing
but a bunch of political
pretenders and anarchists
whose only sole aim was
to acquire power for selfaggrandizement.
Professor Gana
commended President
Jonathan for the
achievements being recorded
under the Transformation
Agenda of the PDP-led
Federal Government.
The Publicity subcommittee
chairman,
Ihedioha, in his comments,
commended the prevailing
spirit of amity and concord
in the party; contending
that the party was on the
path of self re-discovery and
consolidation.
He was particularly
upbeat with the return of
the previous officers from
the South East through their
unanimous endorsement by
the South East leaders and
stakeholders at a meeting of
the zone on Wednesday in
Enugu.
He is of the view that with
a re-invigorated PDP, the
party was unstoppable in
its mission to reposition the
country for greatness.
In its bid to ensure it
provides level playing field
for all the aspirants in the
race for various offices, Prof
Jana’s team even had to
postpone the screening of
aspirants earlier scheduled
for Wednesday to Friday
in order to ensure all the
aspirants were screened.
The announcement for
the screening was aired on
Tuesday night but since the
aspirants are spread all over
the country most of them
would have missed the
screening if the committee
had gone ahead to conduct
the exercise on Wednesday.
Responding to questions
at a press conference on
Thursday, Gana said “Given
the extensive nature of
the federal government of
Nigeria, and the fact that
some people may not have
the opportunity of watching
it over the media, we directed
that there will be sufficient
time for all aspirants to be
available in Abuja” Gana
said.
He stated that an appeal
committee has been set up
to take care of grievances
from the screening of
aspirants saying Governor
of Abia state, Theodore Orji,
minister of state for FCT,
Olajumoke Akinjide and
Alhaji Tafida will serve on
the committee, while Orji
will serve as chairman.
It is quite instructive
that PDP will not be
conducting election at the
convention for office of the
National Secretary of the
party following a case in
court instituted by Prince
Olagunsoye Oyinlola over
his sack by a High Court.
Oyinlola had written to
PDP reminding the party
of the on-going case and in
deference to its commitment
to rule of law the party
resolved to keep election into
that position in abeyance.
Prof Gana said as soon
as an pending court case
is concluded appropriate
decisions will be taken
in accordance with the
directives of the court
judgment when delivered.
The convention committee
subsequently directed that
nomination fees paid by all
aspirants the race for that
position be refunded their
money.
“Aspirants who have
bought forms to contest
for the office of national
secretary shall have their
purchase fees refunded
accordingly”, he said.
The Gana-led convention
committee also went the
extra mile in order to ensure
a hitch-free convention
by organizing a special
training programme for the
subcommittee on electoral
matters with a view to
conduct free, fair and credible
elections in collaboration
with the International
Republican Institute, IRI.
Evidently, there is no doubt
that this convention is one of
the best so far organized by
the ruling party since it came
into being in1998. Professor
Gana and his team deserve
all the accolades for a job well
done. If the party is able to
consolidate on its new found
unity, it may be difficult for
the opposition to displace it
in future elections.