PDP National Convention: Winners may emerge by consensus

•Conduct, outcome of convention will prove that PDP is ready to rescue Nigeria, says Okowa

As the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faithful converge on Abuja today to elect a new National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, there are indications that majority of those who would be elected may emerge by consensus.

The Chairman of Accreditation Sub-Committee of Saturday’s National Convention of PDP, Sen. (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, gave the hint on Friday during a meeting of his Committee in Abuja, while assuring that the planning and outcome of the convention would prove that the party was ready to rescue Nigeria from the prevailing challenges.

Okowa, who is the Governor of Delta State, disclosed during his remarks at the meeting of the Committee held at the party’s National Secretariat, Abuja, that consensus has been reached on most of the elective positions, except two. But he said efforts were being intensified to ensure that consensus was reach on the remaining two positions before the convention kicks off to make the exercise seamless.

The Governor said that PDP was ready to take over leadership at the centre in 2023, emphasizing that the convention would strengthen unity and democracy, not only in the party but in the country also.

The committee chairman disclosed that the party had reached consensus on most of the elective positions at the convention, adding that only two positions were still open for contest.

He, however, expressed hope that consensus would also apply on the remaining position going by the efforts being made by the leadership of the party.

The Delta Governor urged members of the committee to uphold transparency, objectivity and fairness in the handling of their responsibilities, saying that the assignment of the committee was the “soul of the convention”.

He said that only those accredited by the committee would be allowed to vote at the convention, stressing that over-crowding would not be entertained at the venue.

Okowa restated that the convention would send a signal to the party in power that its time was up, and sued for the support of PDP members in the task of rebuilding the party for greater success.

“I welcome all of you to this meeting and it is my hope that we do our work as diligently as we can so that at the end of the day, the PDP will be proud of our work as Accreditation Sub-Committee.

“Processes must have to be put in place to ensure that only those who were duly accredited will be in a position to vote at the convention.

“People look up to us and they expect that at the end of the day, we would have done what is supposed to be done and done rightly also.

“If there is trust in the convention, that trust must start from the process of accreditation and we must do the best that we can for this country.

“We are not expecting to have a contentious convention because we are doing the best that we can within the leadership of the party in trying to ensure that we limit the level of contest at the convention.

“The PDP believes in building consensus, so we are still talking with the contestants and within the party leadership to see how we can reduce the contest and I believe that we will be able to agree as much as possible,” he stated.

The governor further remarked that where the party failed to build consensus in some positions as was expected, there would be a contest in the various positions affected.

“As at this morning, it’s only two of the positions that we have not been able to build consensus on at the moment.

“Every other position we have been able to build consensus. So, we are looking forward to a very peaceful convention that we believe will be able to strengthen our party and send the right message to Nigerians that, as a party, we are truly prepared to rescue this nation.

“As a party we must use this convention to prove and show to Nigerians that we are truly prepared to take over governance for the good of our nation and our people. So let’s have that in our heart as we do the work rightly.

“It is our prayer that every position will not be contested for so that we just walk in and cast the yes votes.

“But even if we are going to contest for one or two votes, we still have to ensure that things are done in such a manner that it is transparent and the whole world will see that we are a democratic party and we are prepared to do the right thing to send the right communication to Nigerians that we are truly prepared for the future,” he added.