After much back and forth, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) National Executive Committee (NEC) has finally endorsed the report of the party’s national caucus, which approved the report of the 37-man committee that threw open the party’s presidential ticket.
PDP stakeholders convened at the Governor’s Lodge in Benue at 10 a.m. on Wednesday before the NEC, but no resolution was reached, and the meeting was extended for additional consultation.
While the meeting was postponed until 8 p.m., the Board of Trustees (BoT) met at 7 p.m. to adopt the report.
However, prior to the NEC and BoT meetings, it was agreed to use zoning in future elections and to open the party’s presidential ticket owing to time constraints.
As a result, the NEC and BoT advised the party to work toward a consensus candidate if at all possible.
Except for Nze Fidelis OziChukwu of Imo State, the 37-member committee’s report was signed by 36 members.
“After comprehensive debates on the mandate entrusted to it by the National Executive Committee of our great Party, the 2022 National Zoning Committee, at its 95th meeting held on Wednesday March 16, 2022, resolved as follows:
“The PDP’s zoning and rotating presidency provisions are good, and they served the party well in the past.”
It should be stated, and it is stated here. We must always strive to establish justice in a just and equitable manner.
“That it is in the interests of justice and fairness for the party to make a timely decision on zoning in order to avoid the current complication of the process.”
“Given the foregoing, the presidential election should now be declared open.” Even as it endorsed the zoning committee recommendation, the NEC stated that “whenever practicable, the party should work toward a consensus candidate.”
Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, the PDP’s National Chairman, said in his opening address that the NWC was working around the clock to reposition the party.
Waziri Tambawul, Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Governor of Sokoto State, said the party was fully-mobilized ahead of multiple congresses and national conventions, as well as the general election in 2023.
“I guarantee you, Mr. Chairman, that as your governors, we will continue to provide you with all of the support you need to help our party win the general election, beginning with local congresses.” “We’re really proud of the work you and the National Working Committee members are doing,” he remarked.
The array of credible, competent, and experienced gentlemen as PDP presidential hopefuls, according to House Minority Leader Ndudi Elumelu, has upset the failed, corrupt, and rejected All Progressives Congress (APC)
“The rattled APC is parading a congregation of pretenders and political odd bedfellows; flocking treasury looters, narrow-minded politicians, and failed government officials, many of whom are not in contest but recruited as conduits to siphon billions of naira from the public treasury as exorbitant nomination fees to corruptly amass election slush fund for the APC,” he says.
“Among these are individuals who, as officials of the failing APC administration, recklessly pillaged our commonwealth and imposed a life of misery on millions of Nigerians who can no longer afford their daily meals and other essentials of life.”
“They include those who condone and rationalize our country’s daily killings and acts of terrorism; those who sit in government deliberately denying our youths the education and opportunities they deserve; and failed politicians who have the audacity to run for president despite being rejected by Nigerians.” Isn’t it ironic that, while thousands of our university students are being kept out of class due to a continuing lecturers’ strike at our public universities, the ministers in charge of dealing with the problem are more engaged in politics?”
As a result, he called on the federal government to end the strike immediately so that students may resume their studies.
“We also reaffirm our demand to the federal government to address the difficulties in the aviation sector, as well as the continuing fuel crisis, which have further damaged our country’s economy,” he said.
“More importantly, we urge President Muhammadu Buhari to take tougher measures to obtain the release of those kidnapped by terrorists, particularly those involved in the Kaduna/Abuja train attack and, in particular, the woman who was put to bed in a kidnapping den.” We must not allow our citizens to suffer in captivity any longer. Leaders of our party, it is clear that the APC, having lost all goodwill, is using poverty and social dislocation as political weapons to weaken Nigerians’ determination in the run-up to the elections.
“However, one thing is certain: Nigerians have seen through the APC’s theatrics and will not be swayed by money or coercion.” This is why they are flocking around the PDP. I applaud their bravery and determination, and we must not fail them.
“In all of our operations, we must remain united and focused.” “We must approach this NEC conference with undiluted patriotism, reject all personal, group, and sectional interests, and emerge with solid decisions that will lead our party to victory in 2023,” he stated.
The presidential convention will be held in Abuja, and the organizing committee will be directed by David Mark, a former President of the Senate.
