The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday elected new officials into its National Working Committee, NWC.
The event was however not without drama, physical attacks and protest by opposing members and delegates.
Governors including Chibuike Rotimi of Rivers State, Sule Lamido of Jigawa, Babangida Aliyu of Niger, Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano, Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara, Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto, Muritala Nyako of Adamawa and the latest being Usman Sa’idu Nasamu Dakingari of Kebbi, walked out of the venue in anger.
The convention was organised after the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, cited fraud in the last year’s process that produced them.
The INEC in its report on the conduct of March 24, 2012 National Convention of the PDP criticized the processes. It said, ”The mode of election adopted for single candidates was not in accordance with the mode of election stipulated in paragraph 6.5 (i) of the guidelines for the conduct of the year 2012 congresses and national convention and therefore not acceptable to the commission”.
It declared that only four NWC members were duly elected. They are the National Chairman, Tukur; former National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; former National Auditor, Bode Mustapha and National Financial Secretary, Elder Bolaji Anani. Mustapha has since been replaced by Adewale Adeyanju as national auditor.
Those INEC said were elected outside the guidelines set for the convention include erstwhile Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja; National Organizing Secretary, Abubakar Mustapha; National Youth Leader, Alhaji Garba Chiza; Deputy National Youth Leader, Dennis Alonge Niyi; Deputy National Auditor, Senator Umar Ibrahim; Deputy National Woman Leader, Hannatu Ullam and National Woman Leader, Kema Chikwe.
Others are former Deputy National Organizing Secretary, Okechukwu Nnadozie; Deputy National Treasurer, Claudus Inengas; National Legal Adviser, Victor Kwon; National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh and Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Binta Masi-Garba.
At the end of Saturday’s voting, the following were declared winners and are henceforth the new set of national officers of the party.
1. Deputy National Chairman- Secundus Uche 2241 votes
2. National Treasurer: Bala Buhari 2181
3. Deputy National Publicity Secretary – Jalo Abdullahi Ibrahim 2215
4. National Organizing Secretary – Mustapha Abubakar 2125
5. Deputy National Legal Adviser – Bashir Maidugu 2011
6. Deputy National Organizing Secretary – Nnadozie Okechkwu 2226
7. National Legal Adviser – Kwonm Victor Yususfu 2053
8. Deputy National Financial Secretary-Gwadabe Awwalu Abdu- 2316
9. Deputy National Secretary – Onwe Solomon Onwe- 2051
10. National Publicity Secretary – Olisa Metuh- 1956
11. National Woman Leader – Kema Chikwe- 2011
12. Deputy National Auditor – Lawal Anche- 2221
13. Deputy National Woman Leader – Ulam Hannatu- 2154
14. National Youth leader (2 candidates) Baba Wakili -421 and Abdullahi Maibasira 1547
15. Deputy National Youth leader – (3 candidates) Victor Modupe, 25. Ogunmole Felix 423 and Alonge Olaniyi Dennis 1045. 118 votes were voided.
However, the chairman of the electoral committee, Ken Nnamani announced that “there is a serious petition against the election of the National Youth leader because the winner did not participate in the screening exercise”
He said the petition will be considered later.
The winners received certificates of return. The oath of office was administered by Justice Ricky Tarfa, SAN.
Former chairman, Bello Haliru Mohammed moved the motion for the closing of the convention. It was seconded by the FCT Minister of state Olajumoke Akinjide.
Earlier in the day, Govenors and chieftains of the ruling party led by a former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, stormed out of the venue not long after voting commenced.
Part of the reasons for their action was that virtually all their candidates were tactically disqualified from taking part in the contest.
Already, they have announced a parallel faction of the ‘Africa’s largest party’, with a promise to ensure fairnes, justice, equity and unity.
Kommentare