INEC okays PDP’s national convention - North endorses Izuogu as consensus chairman

Idowu Samuel, Abuja - 13.02.2008

THE coast is now clear for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to hold its ward, local government and zonal congresses as well as the national convention as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) finally endorsed the dates on Tuesday.

About three weeks ago, the PDP announced new dates for its congresses and national convention, indicating that the ward congress of the party would take off on February 21 while the process of electing new officials of the party would terminate with the March 8 convention.

INEC gave the PDP the go ahead to prepare for its congresses and National Convention after Professor Maurice Iwu and other commissioners held a meeting which lasted several hours at the national headquarters.

INEC Commissioner in Charge of Information, Mr. Phillip Umeadi, who briefed newsmen at the end of the meeting, said the commission approved the dates having been satisfied that the party had fulfilled the requirements of the law on the convention.

Umeadi said that INEC had not only approved the dates of the congresses and national convention, it would also set machinery in motion to monitor the election with the aim of ensuring transparency and fairness.

“We met today and we resolved that the PDP can go ahead with preparations for its congresses and national convention because we found nothing wrong in the dates set aside.

“We never had anything against the PDP other than our desire that all political parties fulfil constitutional requirements before electing their officials. So for now, INEC is free on the convention matters and I think PDP is free too.”

In another development, Northern members of the PDP on Tuesday endorsed the candidature of Dr. Ezekiel Izuogu for the post of national chairman of the party.

The Northern Union took the decision to support the one time governorship aspirant in Imo State at a meeting it held in Abuja.

The meeting, which was presided over by Dr. Olusola Saraki, also had in attendance Paschal Bafyau, Gambo Jimeta, Patrick Adaba, Tanko Yakassai, Shaba Lafiaji, Senator U.J. Yohanna, Col Musa Shehu (rtd), Prof. Nuhu Alkali, Dr. Yakubu Lame, Alhaji Idris Koko, Alhaji Mohammed Goni, Comrade Shamang and Dr. Yima Sen, among others.

The union said it resolved to support Izuogu for the post of PDP chairman after assessing his track record in national politics and found him more competent than the other aspirants. About 26 chairmanship aspirants are expected to contest the position during the March 8 national convention of the PDP.

Dr. Saraki, at the meeting, assured Izuogu of the strong and genuine support of the members.

“When we met Mr. President, we told him that we would go round the country and we will recommend to him the most qualified and the most appropriate candidate for the post of the chairman of the party.

“We have no doubts about your credentials and your good qualities. We will find time to confer with President Yar ‘Adua. But I can assure you of the sincerity of our members in the assessment of you.”