PDP to hold convention March 8

Idowu Samuel, Abuja - 29.01.2008

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has finally fixed March 8 for its national convention after several postponements. However, the National Secretary of the party, Chief Bernard Ezeh, dismissed the idea of setting up a committee to conduct the national convention, stating that the party already had a structure in place to ensure a fair conduct of the convention.

The party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) on Monday ratified the date after its meeting at the national headquarters with President Umaru Yar’Adua and his predecessor, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in attendance.

The PDP NEC meeting also had in attendance, 19 of the party’s governors as well as the President of the Senate, Senator David Mark and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Dimeji Bankole.

The PDP was initially billed to hold its national convention last December, but was forced to shift the date to January 5, 2008 following complaints from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that the party failed to inform it about the event in compliance with the country electoral law.

The party, however, had reason to shift the date of the national convention indefinitely in January after its proposed meeting scheduled for January 31 could not be held due to unresolved issues about the convention.

In his address at the PDP NEC meeting, President Yar’Adua praised the leadership of the party for successfully piloting the affairs of the party which he said had clocked 10 years.

Yar’Adua restated the commitment of his government to the principle of rule of law, urging the members to support his political reforms aimed at deepening democracy in Nigeria.

“The entire leadership of party deserves a special commendation for these far-reaching reforms that have been effected within our party. We must stay the course in living to our pledge to reform the electoral process. We must demonstrate our readiness to do all that is required to expand the political space and strengthen, deepen and broaden the institution of our democratic governance,” he said.

In his address at the NEC meeting, the PDP National Chairman, Senator Ahmadu Ali, allayed the fears by members of the party on the judgments against some governors from the party, saying that the ruling party would always win elections in the event that fresh elections were ordered by the tribunals across the states.

According to him, the setback experienced by the party which resulted in the nullification of the election of six PDP governors had nothing to do with the quality of candidates, but the process of nomination and elections. He said the quality of the party’s candidates remained the best among other political parties.

The chairman stated that President Yar’Adua was not reversing the reforms of Obasanjo, saying rather than reversing the reforms, President Yar’Adua was only monitoring and adjusting them.