…PDP governors take over party
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s National Executive Committee (NEC) yesterday, appointed governors to head its 47-member National Convention Committee and its 45-member Zonal Committee.
This is coming on the heels of the appeal by the embattled Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, against the order of the High Courts, sitting in Rivers and Cross-River States, stopping him from parading himself as the National Chairman of the party.
The PDP NEC also appointed the governor of Adamawa State, Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, as the Chairman of the party’s National Convention scheduled for October 30 and Governor of Bayelsa state, Sen. Douye Diri, his deputy. Engr. Seyi Makinde, the Governor of Oyo State is to serve as Secretary.
The party NEC has also appointed the Enugu State governor, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, as the Chairman of Zoning Committee, Dr. Samuel Ortom, the Governor of Benue State is deputy and Zamfara State deputy governor, Barr. Mahdi Aliyu Mohammed, as its Secretary.
The appointment of Fintiri as the Chairman of the Convention Committee, it was gathered, generated some controversy among party members, who were of the opinion that he is a close associate to the former vice-president, Atiku Abubakar.
Some party members, who observed that all the appointments have been taken over by the governors, added that the governors are not only taking appointments but have taken over the entire party.
The governors, it was also gathered, are likely to do some shakeup in some organs of the party after the convention, especially the Board of Trustee (BoT).
Recall that the party had been embroiled in a leadership crisis where some governors have been fingered. This development had prompted the emergence of the Deputy National Chairman South to lead the party, Yemi Akinwonmi, because of the sacked of Secondus.
The party’s NEC charged the committees to work hard to ensure the successful conduct of the National Convention”.
The National Publicity Secretary, however, said that no date has not been fixed for the submission of report by the zoning committee, but that the Convention date remain intact.
The governor of Delta State, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, assured that the PDP is set to win the elections in Anambra State.
The former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, called for understanding and total reconciliation of party faithful across the country.
