PDP in MAKE-OR-BREAK CONVENTION in Abuja

The police on Friday sealed off the Federal Capital Territory commercial nerve centre, the Central Business District, Abuja ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party’s make-or-break convention today.

The convention is significant to the party in many ways. Its success will go a long way in determining the outing of the party in the 2015 general elections. Read more

The party has been enmeshed in a lot of controversies in the last few months with noticeable divisions among its members. Some of its governors openly spoke against the party.

If the party fails to get its acts right at this convention, it may give the newly registered All Progressives Congress an upper hand in 2015.

A total of 3,500 delegates will decide the fate  of 75 aspirants who are jostling for the 17 available positions in the national leadership of the party at  today’s mini convention.

Hundreds of riot and conventional policemen who were deployed to provide security for the  event blocked all the access routes to the venue of the convention and directed motorists to take alternative routes.

The Force headquarters had on Thursday informed the public that the main access roads  to the Eagle Square will be  barricaded and traffic diverted with effect from 4.00pm on Friday.

It listed the affected roads to include Ahmed Bello Way Fly-over;  Benue Plaza Road; Ministry of Finance junction; Bullet junction; Bayelsa House junction and  Ministry of Foreign Affairs Fly-over.

Our correspondent who went around the city observed security personnel taking strategic positions around the Federal Secretariat and the Eagle Square.

Eagles Square, venue of the mini convention, was wearing  a new look on Friday with different decorations made of red, white and green colours of the party.

Security has also been beefed up around the area, with different security agencies manning all the roads leading to the venue.

Policemen, officers from the Department of the State Security Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp were among the security agencies that had already taken positions in the area.

The Chairman of the Publicity Committee for the convention, who is also the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha, told journalists at the venue of the convention on Friday evening, that the delegates would start voting as soon as President Goodluck Jonathan  is ushered into the place.

He said, “ There are 146 voting units where people can vote and we are expecting about 3,500 delegates.

“Each state would have four voting units. We hope that voting would have concluded by 2.30 pm. We hope to start voting by 10am or as soon as the President comes in.

“We have brought in seasoned administrators, who are members of the party as anchors for the programme.”

Investigations by our correspondent in Abuja on Friday indicated that governors who were elected on the platform of the party, met to consider the possibility of scaling down the list of contenders for various positions.

There are 11 candidates for the position of national publicity secretary, one for deputy national woman leader, six for national youth leader, woman leader has 10 aspirants, four for deputy national youth leader, one for deputy national financial secretary, one for the office of deputy national auditor and  six for national ex-officio.

For the office of deputy national chairman, there are six aspirants, two are to slug it out for the office of deputy national secretary, national organising secretary also has two contenders, deputy national organising secretary also has six aspirants while three are vying for the office of the deputy national publicity secretary.

National treasurer has two contenders, only one person is contesting for the office of deputy national treasurer, national legal adviser has a sole candidate and the deputy as well.

The meeting of the governors, it was gathered, was to make sure that they protect their own interests by making sure that their candidates are voted for.

There was a long queue of motorists  when Saturday PUNCH passed by the Federal Secretariat on Friday.

The police had deployed the personnel of the Police Mobile Force, the Counter-Terrorist Unit, Anti-Bomb Squad and it was learnt that the Police Air Wing would conduct aerial patrol during the event.

In addition, personnel of the Canine section and special operatives of the Force Intelligence Bureau would  be deployed for the operation, according to the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar.

The IG had issued an Operational Order directing the FCT Commissioner of Police, FCT, Femi Ogunbayode to ensure a tactical and well coordinated deployment of personnel and other operational equipment in order to provide a safe and conducive atmosphere for the convention.

The  AIG Zone 7, Sulaiman Abba was directed to personally take charge of the entire operation, to guarantee a seamless command-and-control of the exercise.

Many taxi cab drivers who had got wind of the lock down of the central area were seen turning down passengers who flagged them for a ride to the surrounding areas of the square.

A cab driver, Musikilu Oderinde, told one of our correspondents  that he would not venture near the venue of the convention until Monday, no matter the financial bait from any passenger.

“The moment I heard that the PDP is holding its convention at the Eagle Square, I told myself that I would not move near that area because I know that the major roads will be blocked and security personnel will likely harass anyone that ventures near them,” he said.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba solicited  the support of FCT residents during the convention and advised  commuters, motorists and the general public to use alternate routes during the duration of the event, adding that all blocked routes would be re-opened to traffic and the public as soon as the  activities were over.

“We solicit the understanding and cooperation of the public in assisting the police and other security agencies in ensuring a peaceful, safe and secure convention , as part of conscious efforts by all citizens to nurture democracy and national growth,” he said.

  by Olusola Fabiyi, Abuja and Adelani Adepegba, Abuja
Culled from Punch newspaper