independent.ng


Baring any last minute miracle, Prince Uche Secondus is set to trounce Prof. Tunde Adeniran and Dr. Raymond Dokpesi in a landslide to emerge as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The much awaited elective National Convention of the PDP was still ongoing at the Eagle Square venue of the convention at the time of filing this report.
Though, Prof. Adeniran emerged on Friday night as the consensus candidate of the Southwest geo-political zone, it was apparently too late to change the course of the contest as the South South and Southeast leaders had coalesced, adopted Secondus and sold his candidature to the northern delegates who were waiting on the South to present a candidate that would be voted for as the Chairman of the party at the convention.

Jimi Agbaje, one of the contestants, who announced his withdrawal yesterday from the race on his verified Twitter handle, @Jimiagbaje, on Saturday, few hours before the commencement of the national convention, said in a letter addressed to the PDP National Convention Planning Committee that the party had from inception adopted the principle of zoning offices among the country’s geo-political zones.

“In line with such zoning and other parameters, I have at different fora, expressed my strong belief that the next National Chairman of our great party should come from the South West,” he said.




Dr. Raymond Dokpesi
He also said he was, however, convinced that “with seven out of all nine aspirants coming from the South West, this multiplicity of co-contenders will work to the detriment of our zone when it comes to voting”.

Agbaje said delegates’ votes split seven ways will not produce a chairman from the Southwest, adding, “It therefore becomes necessary to prune our members down to no more than two”.

Late Friday night, Chief Olabode George had set the ball rolling as he announced his withdrawal from the race, citing alleged insults heaped on Yoruba people by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and the refusal of the South South and Southeast to back the call by the Southwest for micro-zoning of the seat to it (Southwest) as his reason for quitting.

Some hours into the convention, a press statement was sent online to Sunday Independent signed by former Oyo State Governor, and a contestant, Rashidi Ladoja announcing the withdrawal of all other aspirants from the Southwest from the race and adopting Prof. Adeniran as the candidate to slug out the contest with Secondus, who had then become the favourite of most delegates.

Some persons were seen going round the pavilion of states telling them that Prof. Adeniran has been chosen as the consensus candidate for the Southwest, and should be so treated when voting commences.

However, the Southwest aspirants did not individually make known their personal decision to opt out of the contest to the hearing of the delegates until the voting had commenced proper.

About four states had already voted before the withdrawal of Segun Aderemi from the race was announced.

Meanwhile, just as announcements were made about the adoption of the constitution amendment, rumour sprang up at the Eagle Square Arcade, that a Unity List has been adopted by the “leaders and stakeholders” containing names and offices allocated to individuals who have been selected as preferred candidates for the offices.

The candidates it was said, were chosen based on the interest of some gladiators across the geo-political zones.

The name of Secondus was top on the list as the document was freely distributed to delegates at the convention before the commencement of the voting process.

However, one of the chairmanship aspirants and media magnate Raymond Dokpesi, has faulted the PDP National Leadership elections, describing it as a Charade, which he warmed, may destroy the party.

Dokpesi told newsmen at the convention ground that the process of voting has been rigged, following the distribution of a unity list containing names of candidates believed to have won elections into various National leadership positions in the party.

Other positions were also shared to represent the interest of godfathers in the party.

While it was not certain if the list would be adhered to strictly by the delegates, it was, however, observed that the candidature of Secondus was popular among the

An important fact is that in every democracy of any nation without a strong opposition their development is bound to be in slow motion. As a Nigerian we need PDP (the only obvious opposition but not strong enough party) to get their sh33t together.

GavelSlam:


Like China?

More like Singapore

GavelSlam:


China is a democracy without any credible opposition. I don't see how it has prevented rapid growth.

Well am not a student of Political Science and so am open to correction but with what I know our mode of government is different from China
or I my mixing things up?