PDP appoints 13-member screening committee ahead of November national convention

PDP appoints 13-member screening committee ahead of November national convention

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has constituted a
13-member screening committee ahead of its national elective convention slated
for November 15 in Ibadan, Oyo state.

 

The event will take place at Adamasingba Stadium.

 

Ahmadu Fintiri, governor of Adamawa state and chairman of
the convention organising committee (NCOC), announced on Saturday.

 

Eyitayo Jegede, former Ondo governorship candidate and
senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), will chair the committee.

 

 

Other members include former governors Olagunsoye Oyinlola
of Osun, Achike Udenwa of Imo, Josephine Anenih, Mariam Chiroma, Felix Hassan
Hyat, Emmanuel Enoidem, Aduke Maina, and Zainab Maina.

 

Mohammed Diri will serve as deputy chairman, while Asue
Ighodalo is the secretary. Jacob Otorkpa was named deputy secretary.

 

According to the NCOC, the screening of aspirants will begin
on Tuesday.

 

 

The PDP continues preparations for the convention amid
unresolved internal disputes and a pending lawsuit at a federal high court in
Abuja.

 

The case, presided over by James Omotosho, challenges the
legality of the exercise over alleged exclusion of stakeholders and inadequate
consultations.

 

The court has scheduled October 31 for its ruling — just two
weeks before the planned convention.

 

Some party leaders, led by Nyesom Wike, minister of the
federal capital territory (FCT), are demanding the restoration of the
south-south zonal committee and resolution of disputed congresses in the
south-east, Cross River, Plateau, Akwa Ibom, and Kebbi.

 

 

The party has also witnessed fresh defections in recent
weeks.

 

Douye Diri, governor of Bayelsa, and Peter Mbah, governor of
Enugu, have both left the PDP.

 

While Mbah joined the All Progressives Congress (APC),
Douye’s allies have also moved to the ruling party, sparking speculation about
his next political alignment.

 

In the north, some members are divided over the emergence of
Tanimu Turaki, former minister of special duties, as the “consensus candidate”
for the position of national chairman.

 

 

Turaki was endorsed on Wednesday following a meeting of
northern stakeholders in the north-west zone.

 

However, the selection has been challenged by a faction led
by Umar Bature, outgoing national organising secretary, who argued that the
decision lacked broad consultation.

 

 

Debo Ologunagba, PDP national publicity secretary, said the
party has not barred anyone from contesting.

 

“No member of the party who wishes to contest any position
has been denied the right to do so,” Ologunagba said.

Source: PDP appoints 13-member screening committee ahead of November national convention

 - NigerianEye
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