The two-day National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, started yesterday (Saturday) and will end today Sunday.
The main opposition party will be electing its presidential candidate to challenge President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the 2019 presidential election. There are 13 aspirants jostling for the sole ticket of the party in the primaries that will be held in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
The PDP has settled for the indirect mode of primaries to pick its candidate.
Among the aspirants hoping to grasp the party’s single ticket are former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki; the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal; former Governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso; A two-time Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, and a former Minister of Education and two-time Governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau.
Others are two-time Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Ahmed Makarfi: Attahiru Bafarawa, a former governor of Sokoto state; the Governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Dankwambo; a former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki; A former member of the House of Representatives, Datti Baba-Ahmed; the immediate past President of the Senate, David Mark; and a former Governor of Plateau State, Jonah David Jang.
According to a live update by daily post, at 6:50 am Voting finally begins
Voting has finally commenced as the delegates aim to elect the party’s presidential candidate for the 2019 election.
The convention has 12 aspirants contesting for the party’s sole presidential ticket.
The aspirants, who are glued to their seats, are hoping that the delegates would find them worthy of their votes.
The Chairman of the Convention Planning Convention Planning Committee, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, had appealed to the delegates to be patient.
The Governor also assured the aspirants that the votes would count and that the committee would be neutral.
6:39 am Atiku speaks to delegate, begs to be voted
Former Vice President and presidential aspirant, Atiku Abubakar described the presidential election holding in Port Harcourt as most important in the history of Nigeria.
He said this in his address at the National Convention of the party being held in Port Harcourt, Rivers state.
Atiku full speech: “On this day, you have a most important decision in your hands. You must decide who will represent the PDP as our candidate for the President of Nigeria.
“This election is one of the most important in the history of our Republic. Four years ago, the people of Nigeria voted for Change, today they are not happy with the change they received.
“The economy has slowed bringing hardship across Nigeria, increasing hunger and poverty, farmers struggle, businesses close, and jobs are lost. All the while, our government has become less transparent and deaf to the voices of Nigerians.
“It is time we get Nigeria working again. We need jobs, wealth creation for farmers and across the agriculture sector, along with security for every Nigerian so they may prosper.
“This is why I ask for your support in seeking the PDP ticket. You are aware of my government service and just as importantly my long work in business helping develop the economy, creating jobs in agriculture, healthcare, and education.
“With your support, together, we can truly get Nigeria working again. Upon election, I will work with you the delegates of the PDP and every Nigerian in each state to restructure and build the local infrastructures needed to grow the economy, create jobs and bring wealth to every Nigerian. ”
6:30: Secondus addresses delegates, aspirants
National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, Saturday night urged Nigerians to “take back” their mandate from the ruling All Progressives Congress.
He said this in his address at the National Convention of the party being held in Port Harcourt, Rivers state. According to Secondus, the simple message from across Nigeria and the globe is: “President Buhari, it is time to go.”
He said PDP is returnin to stabilize Nigeria; to unite a visibly fractured country, where peace and justice would triumph and where rule of law and respect for human rights will prevail.
9:20 pm: Davido performs for PDP as delegates wait for accreditation
Nigerian superstar singer, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has just concluded his performance at the on going Peoples Democratic Party, PDP National Convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The singer’s interlude of music relieved distressed delegates.
There has been a delay in ongoing accreditation of delegates which has altered the timetable of the convention. The convention was supposed to have progressed at 7pm into a session for presidential aspirants to address delegates prelude to voting to pick an eventual candidate, but so far, accreditation is yet to be concluded
The introduction of Davido into the podium enlivened the gloomy countenances of teeming. Davido performed his hit songs including Assurance, Skelewo, Fall, If among others, sending many in the stadium running from their seats to the podium.
8:00 pm: Gov. Okowa commends aspirants, reveals how votes will be conducted
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, who is serving as Chairman Planing Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party National Convention, has commended the aspirants. He also revealed how voting would be conducted without issues. He said the voting would be done in a way that no aspirant would know who any of the delegates voted for.
He tweeted, “I must commend the aspirants for the show of love for our party @OfficialPDPNig and our country, the voting pattern will be credible and transparent, there will be no room for anyone to know who voted for him or not.”
7:40 pm: PDP presidential primary: Party speaks on best candidate to replace Buhari
The National Publicity Secretary for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kola Ologbondiyan, has said that Nigerians have moved beyond the current administration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and are looking up to the PDP to turn their situation around. Ologbondiyan said this on Saturday during the party’s presidential primary, taking place in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
He said, “You know it as a fact that Nigerians have moved beyond this government and President Muhammadu Buhari and as such, they are looking up to the Peoples Democratic Party to bring out that candidate who understands the nuances of Nigerians.
“That candidate has the ability to turn our situation in the country today around. “We can assure you that the candidate that will emerge from this primary has the capacity to achieve this”.
Speaking further, he stressed that whoever emerges as the winner of the primary, has the capacity to “perform wonders”.
“Of the 12 candidates that we have presented before Nigerians, whoever among them emerges, has a stronger and better capacity to perform wonders in the 21st century for our nation and for our people and as such, we await and Nigerians across the globe, have their eyes turned into this convention arena as we speak, because of the expectations that they have of the People’s Democratic Party.
“The joy in the PDP today is that we are reformed, we are refocused, we have rebranded and we are presenting aspirants with experience to Nigerians so Nigerians are at liberty to look around these aspirants and choose that one candidate that will make the difference,” Ologbondiyan added.
6:30 pm: Presidential primary: Gov. Okowa reveals what’ll happen to PDP after convention, speaks on aspirants stepping down
The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Convention Planning Committee, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, on Saturday assured that the outcome of the convention will leave the party stronger and more united.
The Delta Governor spoke with Channels Television at the Adokiye Amasiemeka Stadium, Port Harcourt, venue of the convention, disclosing that he was not aware of any of the 12 presidential aspirants stepping down for another. Okowa said he was confident that the candidate that will emerge from the convention will be a strong candidate
“We are a strong party and we are going to go through a credible process today. I believe that we going to become more united even after this convention because we are very sure that we are going to deliver a very credible process.
“Therefore, whosoever emerges in this process is going to be a very strong candidate that will be very competitive, and we are sure that we will work hard to ensure his victory.
“I am not aware of anybody who has stepped down. We made it very clear, anybody who is going to step down has to step down in writing and also publicly announce it at the convention ground here,” he said.
6:00 pm: PDP Presidential primary: Saraki’s camp commends delegates
As voting commences at the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Presidential primary election, the camp of an aspirant and the Senate President, Bukola Saraki on Saturday commended delegates for their conduct.
Saraki’s Special Adviser on International Relations, Bankole Omisore said the civility and maturity with which the party’s delegates approached the convention was commendable.
In a tweet, Omisore said the Saraki’s support movement was waxing stronger. According to the aide, his principal was a strong contender for the party’s presidential ticket. He tweeted, “Must commend all @OfficialPDPNig Presidential aspirants for approaching this convention with a lot of civility and maturity. “As at 5:57pm, the #GrowNigeria movement is waxing strong. @bukolasaraki is indeed a leading contender in this race.”
5:45 pm: PDP presidential primary: Vote for Saraki – Aspirant Turaki tells delegates
One of the 13 aspirants jostling for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential ticket, Tanimu Turaki, has asked PDP delegates to vote for the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, if, for whatever reasons, they rejected him.
According to Vanguard, Turaki said that only him and Saraki possess the pedigree, competence, and character to solve Nigeria’s problems. The former Minister said should the delegates reject him, that they should, however, not hesitate to vote for Saraki whom he said is his brother.
According to him, “People have been arguing that there are a lot of presidential aspirants in PDP. And people are laying an ambush, thinking that this election process will create a lot of problems that they could benefit from.
“And all of us are speaking to ourselves as speaking to each other.
“And we agree that anybody who gets the ticket among us, that others will line up behind him. “Both of us have experience. Both of us have knowledge and integrity.
“Both of us have character and both of us have that competence. And when you look at our antecedents, our backgrounds, our pedigree, it's impeccable.
”So I say to Nigerians, particularly PDP delegates, for if for whatever reasons you don’t want me, take Abubakar Bukola Saraki as my brother. “I believe that between the two of us, that the problems of Nigeria will be solved decisively,” he concluded.
2:40 pm
The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Convention Committee, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, has said that “late arrival of delegates delayed the take-off of the convention.” Okowa, who spoke with newsmen at the PDP convention holding in Port Harcourt on Saturday, said ‘the most challenging part of the convention was the inability of delegates to arrive early.”
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Newsmen delegates were being meticulously screened as they troop in but accreditation is still yet to commence. The delegates were made to pass through three gates of screening before getting into the main bowl where the election would take place.
To enter into the main bowl was made so difficult by the committee that many journalists were not allowed to enter in spite of their accreditation cards.
One of the delegates from Kano, Shuaibu Adamu from Kano assured of a successful convention, while Shehu Sani from Bauchi urged delegates to vote the right aspirant. Joshua Momoh from Delta urged delegates to elect a credible candidate for 2019 Presidential election.
Most of the delegates told NAN that they were satisfied with the security arrangement at the convention venue, especially the weather which was clement. Newsmen report that delegates in their thousands were already at the convention venue – Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, and had turned the venue into a carnival ground with great pomp and pageantry.
Many aspirants with their supporters were in their various uniforms chanted political songs and making merriment while awaiting accreditation.
2:30 pm
Former President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan receives Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, delegates in Port Harcourt venue of the party’s National Convention
12:30 pm: All the aspirants are currently in a crucial closed-door meeting ahead of the presidential primary
Delegates from Imo and Anambra States gathered and speak to Senate President Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki at the venue of the convention.
After meeting with the delegates, Publisher of Ovation Magazine, Dele Momodu, also quoted Saraki’s media team as saying that “Saraki, Obi In Crucial Meeting Ahead of Today’s Convention: Dr. Saraki and former Governor of Anambra State, Dr Peter Obi, met this morning in Port Harcourt”
12:01 pm
Delegates from Imo and Anambra States gathered and speak to Senate President Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki at the venue of the convention. After meeting with the delegates, Publisher of Ovation Magazine, Dele Momodu, also quoted Saraki’s media team as saying that “Saraki, Obi In Crucial Meeting Ahead of Today’s Convention: Dr. Saraki and former Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Peter Obi, met this morning in Port Harcourt”
11:00 am
Delegates, food vendors, traders in various consumables, stickers and caps have set up canopies around the Adokiye Amasiemaka Stadium, venue of the 2018 National Convention of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondents at the venue report that some of the delegates have also been sleeping in vehicles parked within the open spaces around the stadium since Oct. 5.
Similarly, posters of the 13 aspirants jostling for the party’s Presidential ticket at the Convention conspicuously adorned streets leading to the stadium. The aspirants are Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; Sen. Bukola Saraki; Ibrahim Dankwambo; Rabiu Kwankwaso; Aminu Tambuwal; Ahmed Makarfi; and Jonah Jang.
Others are Sen. David Mark; Sule Lamido; Atahiru Bafarawa; Tanimu Turaki; Datti Baba-Ahmed; and Stanley Osifo. The presence of Nigeria Police personnel and sister security agencies were also noticeable at the stadium gates and around the stadium to maintain law and order.
Praise singers with various musical instruments professing the virtues of their candidates also thronged the venue. Accreditation of delegates had not started at the time of filing this report.
A delegate, Alhaji Kure Aminu, told NAN at the Sokoto State pavilion that delegates from the state were ready for the convention, saying that Tambuwal, who is also from Sokoto State, would win.
Delegates from Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo separately told NAN that they were voting for aspirants they believed would win the 2019 presidential election on the platform of the PDP. Garba Iliyasu, a delegate from Bauchi State, also expressed confidence that PDP would win in the 2019 elections.
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