Officials elected today will replace those forced to resign in June after the INEC reported fraud in the earlier elections.
-Despite suspension, Andy Uba is attending the convention. He is seated beside his brother and three seats away from Nwoye. Andy arrived after the skirmishes at the state’s pavillion.
-Voting time draws closer. Some aspirants are still moving round, concluding last-minute campaigns.
-After hailing President Jonathan, Sule Lamido, Musa Kwankwaso and Aliyu Wamakko moved together to Jigawa pavilion where they are now seated. Supporters cheered as they strolled.
-Governors of Kano, Jigawa, Niger and Sokoto, go in group to ‘pay homage’ to the president. Some of them are planning a new party.
-Chairman Convention Committee, Jerry Gana, has given his opening speech.
-Murtala Nyako’s faction have decided to stay away from the convention and would go to court on Monday to seek to upturn the convention for the use of wrong delegates list from Adamawa, our Adamawa source has said.
-Convention proper kicks off with Muslim and Christian prayers.That was few minutes after president Jonathan walked in to a cheering welcome.
-An aspirant for the position of National Women Leader, Nikky Nkiru Nwabueze, complains to journalists that despite being screened yesterday, the president told them that Kema Chikwe is going to be returned for the position.
“Write it like that,” she said.
-Olisah Metuh, former spokesman of PDP, enters the pavillion to douse tension as bodyguards fence off Chris Ubah. Shouts of Tony Nwoye rent the air.
-On the fron row of the pavillion, one delegate seats between the rivals, Nwoye and Ubah. Andy Ubah is not here yet.
-At the Anambra pavillion, blows were actually exchanged. Some delegates said Chris Ubah been suspended and must leave. His supporters on the other hand said he must stay. Bruised faces staring at each other from both ends.
-Security agents move in to the Anambra pavillion to calm the situation but hot arguments still on.
-Fighting breaks out at the Anambra state pavilion as some delegates bar Chris Ubah from taking his seat. He is rough handled in the fight.
-Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, arrives the venue.
-Sule Lamido of Jigawa is also here. “If Lamido is here, who else is not here?” the announcer said, while announcing his arrival.
-Sokoto state governor, Aliyu Wammako, and his deputy, Mukhtari Shagari just walked in, rubbishing speculations here at Eagle Square that the group of six northern governors might boycott the convention.
-On the other side, the entire Adamawa pavilion is filled by people delegates loyal to a faction led by PDP Chairman Bamanga Tukur. Governor Murtala Nyako is reportedly holding a meeting in his residence with senators and House of Reps members loyal to him.
-Security is tight here, but so far the security agents are displaying a high level of professionalism. A chopper has been hovering over Eagle Square since morning. We just hope the pilot is constantly checking his fuel gauge.

Thanks man
I would appreciate time stamp as well an d if possible pic , I no fit watch am

For Anambra and Adamawa, only statutory delegates are voting due to factionalization of the party in those states.
-Delegates now queuing up to vote, according to their states. Each state, including the FCT, has its voting point. All state will vote simultaneously.
-Ken Nnamani is announcing the list of those eligible to contest in the elections. A lot of contestants have been screened out. Details will follow shortly.
-Governors Kwankwaso and Sule Lamido invited Atiku Abubakar to tour the pavilions. Their supporters are ecstatic and chanting in Hausa, “said mun chanja”. Meaning: We must change.
-Ex-Convict, Bode George, interviewed by National Tv, NTA.

-Breaking News:
Amidst Reports That They've Formed Their Own Party, 8 States Walk Out Off PDP Convention!
_Kano, Jigawa Governors Were First To Leave; Kwara, Adamawa, Niger, Sokoto, Rivers Followed.
*abt 2hrs ago*

PDP SPLITS: SEVEN GOVERNORS, OYINLOLA, ATIKU MEMBERS OF NEW FACTION.
--- Nigeria’s ruling Peoples Democratic Party has finally officially split into at least two factions. A new faction, consisting of seven of the party’s 23 governors has announced that it has taken over the party. At a press briefing in Abuja, Bala Kaoje, a former sports minister, was announced as the leader of the new faction of the party.
The press briefing was attended by at least seven governors including those of Kano, Sokoto, Rivers, Jigawa, Kwara, Adamawa, Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was also at the press briefing. A former Osun State Governor and National Secretary of the PDP, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, was announced as the National Secretary of the new PDP faction. The party leaders said they took the decision to salvage the PDP from those who have hijacked it.

---The in-fighting in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) apparently manifested again at the ongoing convention in Eagles Square, Abuja with former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and seven governors staging a walk-out from the Convention.
What impact this will have in the political intrigues of 2015 elections that's unfolding is yet to be fully known.

Why we are taking over PDP from Jonathan, Tukur — New Factional Chairman, Baraje

Below is the full text of a speech by the new factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic, Abubakar Kawu Baraje, at a press conference in Abuja where a new faction of the ruling party was unveiled.
We address you today as leaders of PDP, who are worried by the increasing repression, restrictions of freedom of association, arbitrary suspension of members and other such violations of democratic principles by a faction of our party led by Alhaji Bamanga Tukur .
While we have done everything humanly possible to bring to the attention of critical stakeholders within the party the dangers inherent in the course being charted by that leadership, it has become very clear that the desperate permutations towards 2015 general elections have blinded certain people from the consequences of their actions.
Not only has the constitution of the party been serially abused by Alhaji Tukur and his fellow travelers, all the organs of the party have been rendered virtually ineffectual by a few people who act as though above the law. Unfortunately, it is obvious that that they get encouragement from the presidency whose old calculations are geared towards shutting out any real or imagined opposition ahead of the party’s presidential primaries for the 2015 elections.
As leaders of our great party, we consider it a sacred responsibility to save the PDP from the antics of a few desperadoes who have no democratic temperament and are therefore bent on hijacking the party for selfish ends. While the list of their violations of the tenets of our great party is long, we will highlight just a few:
The National Executive Committee of the PDP at its belated meeting of 20June 2013 approved 20 July2013 for the conduct of a special national convention.
However, that date was changed to August 31 without reverting to NEC ( the only authority vested with such powers) by a few people, apparently acting on the authority of the presidency.
Notwithstanding the fact that INEC had noted that the PDP congresses in nine states were not properly conducted, the illegal delegates from such states are being paraded at the so-called convention being held today in a cynical attempt to circumvent the law and further bring the name of the party to disrepute.
In gross violation of the PDP constitution which stipulates that the NEC meeting must hold at least once in a quarter, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and a few people have been running the party like a personal fiefdom without recourse to that important decision-making organ of the party.
The NEC of the party accepted the resignation of the former members of the NWC whose offices were affected by INEC observations based principally on the agreement that the affected officers would be returned to their respective offices at the convention. However, against the decision of the NEC. And in a not-so-clever bid to exclude some perceived opponents of the few powerful members who are trying to hijack the party, these positions have been made Open to some Yes-men within the party.
Notwithstanding INEC instance that Senator Any Uba is the duly elected candidate of the party in Anambra State and against the background that he is so recognized by majority of our party members, the Bamanga Tukur-led Executives announced a purported suspension of Senator Uba and some other members close to him in defiance of subsisting court orders.
Despite that the PDP Constitution is very clear that the state chapter of the party cannot discipline a national officer, the Deputy National Chairman, Mr. Sam Jaja, has reportedly been dismissed by some renegades who have hijacked the Rivers State chapter of our party with the connivance of the Bamanga Tukur leadership.
The persistent change in the list of the party’s delegates in many states as part of a deliberate attempt to rig the party’s nomination of candidates, especially at the presidential and gubernatorial levels, with a view to foisting on the PDP some unpopular candidates who are bound to lose at the polls.
The suspension without due process of the Governors of Rivers and Sokoto states. Even when the illegal suspension on Sokoto State Governor has been lifted, the Rivers Governor remains purportedly suspended for no just cause.
The illegal dissolution of the Adamawa State chapter of the party is a clear abuse of power by Alhaji Bamanga Tukur thus causing confusion in his home state.

who will save PDP from itself?

in another news, foreign, President Obama says he has made decision to strike certain targets in Syria soon, next week or next month, like UK he'll seek congressional approval.
No other president since Roosevelt has respected the Constitution sufficiently to seek a formal declaration of war. Well-done, Mr. President.

I hope WW3 is not looming.
china, Russia are not in support of western invasion of Syria.

ON ATIKU AND THE 7 GANGSTERS

Samuel Diminas wrote:

Former VP Atiku, Seven Governors, Walk Out of PDP Convention
Sahara Reporters.

My comment: So Atiku formed a new political party PDM, the 7 State Govs formed a new political party VOP and a week later they attend the Convention of the PDP which is not their party which they left to form new parties ?
Something is sincerely wrong with our politician

[size=20pt]EDO STATE. . .PLEASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSE FOLLOW!!!![/size]

Join the WINNING TEAM. . .THE NORTHERNERS!!!!
The weakness of JONATHAN GOODLUCK will be finally exposed!!!!
NOW THAT ALL HIS 'BOKO-HARAM' backings have left!

I am reeeeeeeeeeeeeally enjoying this!!!!

ON PDP CONVENTION

Chidinma Onyejiuwa wrote:

Governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto) and Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers), are said to be behind the move to break away from the PDP.

The above mentioned governors today staged a walk out of the ongoing PDP convention.

Kano, Jigawa Governors Were First To Leave; Kwara, Adamawa, Niger, Sokoto, Rivers Followed.

There have been recent desperate moves by some Northern 2nd term governors to gather momentum for a power shift to the North come 2015 when their 2nd terms would have expired. One of the governors, Babangida Aliyu, of Niger even alluded to a one term pact signed by President Jonathan, but when challenged by President Jonathan's Political Adviser, Ahmed Gulak, to produce the signed agreement, he demurred.
The Northern Governors have apparently found a willing tool in River State Governor, who many suspect was baited by a promise of the vice presidency.

On PDP Convention

Babasola Kuti wrote:

Politics 101:

For all those who don't understand the logic of what played out today, let me just explain briefly:

Today you witnessed the birth of the PDM as a political party.

Governors are free to defect to political parties but members of the legislative arm of Government can only defect if the party is factionalized.

So in effect by carrying out a parallel congress today, Atiku Abubakar and his 7, or is it 8 or is it 10 Governors have created a legal basis for legislators to defect to the PDM.

It also means that Atiku will achieve his dream of becoming a Presidential Candidate for sure once again.

What is more interesting is that issue that concerns Olagunsoye Oyinlola who was National Secretary is still in court so the PDP respecting that fact did not even put the post up for election.

I wish all the players well and look forward to more drama as it unfolds...because there will always be disagreements whatever party you choose...and you will have to deal with it or keep running.

I know whatever the outcome, it will be good for Nigerian politics and hope that the people will be the ultimate beneficiaries.

What is important for some of us is that the PDP today demonstrated maturity, absolute respect for the rule of law and once again conducted a convention where people actually voted in full public glare, and where votes are being counted on live TV.

I can understand why Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu is unhappy. The Party decided to elect a 30 year old youth leader against his wishes for a grandpa youth leader that he presented at the last convention.

NO PARALLEL FACTIONS OF THE PDP
PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN TO MEET WITH PDP GOVERNORS TOMORROW- 1st Sept. 2013.

We all (PDP GOVERNORS) agree to endorse, take part and mobilise our delegates for the national convention.We don't have any parallel PDP, and we have the mechanisms to deal with any internal crisis in the party.
The president will meet with all the PDP governors tomorrow-1 Sept 2013 to thrash out any perceived issues arising in the course of the convention.

HOW TO ORGANISE A CONVENTION:
(1) NEC meeting
(2) 21 days notice to different bodies, such as the INEC as observers
(3) Delegates lists and accreditation and many other considerations for the conduct of any party convention-

GOVERNOR Godswill Akpabio