Presidential aspirants, delegates, party officials, independent observers, journalists and other accredited participants have gathered in Port Harcourt for the Peoples Democratic Party 2018 National Convention.
The event, officially scheduled for 6-7 October in the major commercial hub, would end in the emergence of a presidential candidate for Nigeria’s main opposition party.
The PDP governed Africa’s largest economy and most-populated entity under three successive presidents between 1999 when the country returned to civil rule and 2015 when Muhammadu Buhari emerged the first opposition politician to be elected president.
The PDP has come a long way since March 2015 when Nigerians denied it a fifth presidential election victory. In that general election, the party did not only lose the centre but also saw its grip on over a dozen states successfully wrestled by the All Progressives Congress, which was only established in mid-2013.
Shortly after President Goodluck Jonathan handed over to Buhari at the end of May 2015, the PDP was plunged into a series of protracted internal wranglings that became so critical at some point political observers were predicting its demise.
The crises, which bordered largely on the leadership complexities, were eventually resolved at the Supreme Court in mid-2017, and the party seemed to have steadily regained its posture ever since.
The first sign that the party may enter the 2019 as a strong contender came a few months after the Supreme Court victory in December 2015 when Uche Secondus emerged national chairman at a competitive convention.
Although the outcome was heavily criticised by Secondus’ challengers, especially those from the South-west who believed the new chairman was helped in by Governor Nyesom Wike to spite the Yoruba and relegate them to the fringes in party affairs, the frayed nerves were soon pacified by a reconciliation committee the party set in motion.
Also, within a few months after the PDP victory, and with the opening of 2019 election season looming on the horizon, political heavyweights began joining the party’s folds, and their number built as the election proper approached.
Now months to the general election in February 2019, the party is arguing that but for its top stalwarts who broke away in a major revolt between 2013 when APC was formed and well into the last weeks of the 2015 election, it would not have lost the centre.
The party also said since Buhari’s performance has been underwhelming beyond belief, Nigerians would not be reluctant in relieving him of power at the polls next year.
But the Buhari administration and the APC have shot back at the opposition party’s talking points, saying the current government had been preoccupied with reversing the disastrous policies of the past and accused the PDP of trying to return to power to continue looting the treasury.
The opposition party, however, apologised to Nigerians for its breach of citizens’s mandate during its 16-year reign, promising a new dawn in its conduct going forward.
With former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Governor Aminu Tambuwal, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and a host of other famed politicians who were part of the pre-2015 renegades now back in the PDP and even seeking presidential nomination, the opposition party is now more confident of its standing than at any time since its 2015 shellacking.
The need for aspirants to remain in the PDP and form a united front against Buhari next February has been among the top concerns of the PDP in recent days. Last week, the party reportedly demanded that all aspirants must commit to remain in the party and work together after the convention, its outcome notwithstanding.
Party insiders also said the convention was deliberately scheduled to end on October 7 so as to prevent aspirants from decamping to other parties to participate in their convention upon the deadline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for primaries.
Most aspirants have openly expressed willingness to work with whoever emerges the candidate among them, and none of them has openly indicated interest in defecting after the primaries this weekend. Instead, they have been largely busy canvassing delegates.
At least half of the 12 aspirants met with delegates at different levels throughout the night between Friday and Saturday.
At least 4,000 delegates, comprising automatic, statutory and ad-hoc members, are expected to vote. Politicking among the aspirants for the highest number of delegates score is expected to continue until the last minute.
Organisers estimate voting would start by late evening, and continue well into Sunday at Adokiye Amiesiemeka Stadium.
The 12 candidates are: Atiku Abubakar, Ahmed Makarfi, Aminu Tambuwal, Datti Baba-Ahmed, Attahiru Bafarawa, Sule Lamido, Bukola Saraki, Sule Lamido, David Mark, Jonah Jang, Kabiru Turaki and Rabiu Kwankwaso. They have all expressed confidence in their individual abilities to clinch the ticket and face President Muhammadu Buhari as the main challenger in the general election next February.
2:11pm: Delegates from various states are still being accredited. There is no sign the event will commence in the next one hour. The entire venue is still disorganised.
As at 2:49pm, Rivers State delegates are the first to arrive the venue.
As at 2:49pm, Rivers State delegates are the first to arrive the venue.
3:28pm: The stadium bowl, main venue of the event is near empty. A few delegates are coming in.
The stadium is still empty, as at this time, there is no indication that the event will start anytime soon The stadium is still empty, as at this time, there is no indication that the event will start anytime soon.
PDP Convention: ‘Bidding’ opens as Saraki doles out $1,000 per delegate
Senate President Bukola Saraki has reportedly started paying money to delegates at the Peoples Democratic Party’s national convention, marking perhaps the first move in an expected flurry of payouts which aspirants are keen on raining on delegates to win support for the presidential nomination.
Saraki paid out $1,000 per delegate at about noon on Saturday, hours before voting opens in the convention, Premium Times learnt from delegates, including those who received the largesse.
“We have received our first goodwill from the Senate President Bukola Saraki,” a delegate from Nasarawa State told Premium Times. “It is our first dollars here, but we know more would still come from other aspirants, they have been calling us since yesterday.”
A spokesperson for the Saraki campaign did not immediately return calls for comments. But two sources in his campaign who were among those who coordinated the payout stashed in campaign paraphernalia have corroborated the claim.
The top lawmaker is perhaps the first to pay out cash to influence the choice of delegates. At least 4,000 delegates are expected to vote for 12 aspirants when the exercise commences at this stadium in a few hours’ time.
It is still early in the day, as politician insiders said that the payout would rise as voting kicks off.
“Do not be surprised if they hike the rate to $4,000, this is not your average convention,” a source attached with the campaign of one of the top-four contenders said.
Speaker of the House of Representatives Speaker, Yakubu Dogara discharging his duties as the chairman, accreditation sub-committee.
As at 4:07 pm, accreditation of delegates is still ongoing as less than 30 percent of delegates are seated in the main bowl.
A fracas almost occurred at the entrance of the stadium when a handful of youth accompanying music star, Davido, tried to storm through the security check-point. They were fiercely pushed back by security officers who fired teargas. A former senator from Akwa Ibom, Effiong Bob, was seen walking away from the scene, covering his nose, apparently affected by the teargas. Davido was seen walking away angrily from the scene.
Delegates are still walking in droves into the stadium while introduction of dignitaries is going on. Accreditation is also going on outside the stadium.
Delegates are asked to assemble before the Electoral Committee of the National Convention Committee for final accreditation before the commencement of the voting.
6.45pm: Although, none of the presidential aspirants seems to be present at the venue of the convention, there is an announcement that the aspirants should be ready by 7 pm to address the convention on why the delegates should vote for them.
7.23 pm Nigerian music star, Davido, is performing. Many people are leaving their seats and moving towards the stage to watch him perform.
8.21pm The National Chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus, arrives convention venue.
8.39 pm Convention begins with the national anthem followed by Muslim and Christian opening prayers.
8.50pm Ucge Secondus reads his welcome address, surrounded by party chieftains, including the chairman of the convention committee, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State,.
Secondus said the convention is a step towards the party’s march to regaining power.
He said the convention will be organised in most orderly and credible manner..
He said the APC has shown that it lacks the wherewithal to manage this country.
The national chairman faulted the corruption fight of the APC. He said under the APC administration corruption has become monumental. He said Nigeria has never been divided as it is today. He said the economy has been stagnated under the administration.
Secondus said PDP has helped entrenched democracy in Nigeria since it took over power from the military in 1999.
He said the reform of the electoral process by the PDP led to the defeat of the PDP by the APC in the 2015 presidential election
Secondus lambasted the APC over the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections. He said on Friday he led a protest to INEC and police headquarters over the Osun election. He assured Ekiti and Osun States that PDP is not a violent party and that it will use legitimate means to recover its mandate in the two states.
He asked the delegates to note that the choice they make will go a long way in rescuing the nation from the APC.
He told the aspirants that the primary will be conducted in the most transparent manner. “The whole world is watching us and we must deliver.” he said.
He said, “President Buhari, it is time to go home. Let’s take back our nation.”
The Chairman of the National Convention Committee, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, delivers his address.
Okowa said a lot of people will be wondering why we are starting late. he said most of our delegates had to travel by road. Glad that the delegates have finally arrived. He thanked the Lord for journey mercies, and for the confidence reposed in the committee.
He said the committee has been able to put up a process that they are all proud of.
He said the committee had finished accreditation and that the process will be free, fair, transparent and credible.
He said they are proud of he various organs of the party as well as the aspirants.
He welcomes the delegates to the convention. “We will do what is necessary to ensure that the process is credible as earlier stated.”
Premium Times
