PDP inaugurates convention committee, charges zoning committee to submit report next week

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked the Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi-led zoning committee to submit its report within one week.

The opposition party, which inaugurated its national convention committee yesterday in Abuja, explained that the timely submission of the zoning committee’s report would facilitate the work of the national convention planning committee.

Briefing journalists after the inauguration, chairman of the convention committee and governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, explained that the submission of the report of the zoning committee “is very necessary because that is where our (convention committee) job starts.”

“Without them finishing their assignment, those who would want to contest and some of the preparations, particularly the accreditation cards, ballot papers will not be concluded,” he added.

Fintiri, however, stated that his committee would collaborate with the zoning committee to achieve a successful convention.

He said: “We are going to work hand-in-hand and so, we urge them to quickly finish their job so that those who are interested in any position will also quickly start running round the country to canvass for votes.

“There is no ultimatum but I know that they are also party men and women who also believe in the success of this convention. So, definitely, they are going to conclude their assignment and allow us space so that we can start deploying our knowledge and technology of giving the best convention.”

He ruled out any postponement of the October convention, stating that his committee was equal to the task.

“The time is barely enough but we are adequately preparing. I don’t see any reason for any shift. We have written INEC and we have virtually gotten the approval of the venue. So, what stops us from giving the best NWC at the end of October,” he added.

On whether the party would adopt unity list to pick its national officers again, Fintiri declared that “with the experience we had in the last convention, with the innovation in technology and the rest of them, I think we are going to depart completely from what we had in the last convention.”

He added: “Also, considering the calibre of the men and women that make up the convention committee, I have no doubt in my mind that this convention will come out one of the best. Nevertheless, if a position is zoned to a particular state, and they decide to field one person, we cannot say because we want to have competition in the convention, we will force them into competitive election.”