The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has constituted a13-member screening committee ahead of its national elective convention slatedfor November 15 in Ibadan, Oyo state. The event will take place at Adamasingba Stadium. Ahmadu Fintiri, governor of Adamawa state and chairman ofthe convention organising committee (NCOC), announced on Saturday. Eyitayo Jegede, former Ondo governorship candidate andsenior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), will chair the committee. Other members include former governors Olagunsoye Oyinlolaof Osun, Achike Udenwa of Imo, Josephine Anenih, Mariam Chiroma, Felix HassanHyat, Emmanuel Enoidem, Aduke Maina, and Zainab Maina. Mohammed Diri will serve as deputy chairman, while AsueIghodalo is the secretary. Jacob Otorkpa was named deputy secretary. According to the NCOC, the screening of aspirants will beginon Tuesday. The PDP continues preparations for the convention amidunresolved internal disputes and a pending lawsuit at a federal high court inAbuja. The case, presided over by James Omotosho, challenges thelegality of the exercise over alleged exclusion of stakeholders and inadequateconsultations. The court has scheduled October 31 for its ruling — just twoweeks before the planned convention. Some party leaders, led by Nyesom Wike, minister of thefederal capital territory (FCT), are demanding the restoration of thesouth-south zonal committee and resolution of disputed congresses in thesouth-east, Cross River, Plateau, Akwa Ibom, and Kebbi. The party has also witnessed fresh defections in recentweeks. Douye Diri, governor of Bayelsa, and Peter Mbah, governor ofEnugu, have both left the PDP. While Mbah joined the All Progressives Congress (APC),Douye’s allies have also moved to the ruling party, sparking speculation abouthis next political alignment. In the north, some members are divided over the emergence ofTanimu Turaki, former minister of special duties, as the “consensus candidate”for the position of national chairman. Turaki was endorsed on Wednesday following a meeting ofnorthern stakeholders in the north-west zone. However, the selection has been challenged by a faction ledby Umar Bature, outgoing national organising secretary, who argued that thedecision lacked broad consultation. Debo Ologunagba, PDP national publicity secretary, said theparty has not barred anyone from contesting. “No member of the party who wishes to contest any positionhas been denied the right to do so,” Ologunagba said.
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