PDP NEC postpones convention, extends Makarfi’s tenure by one year …..Akpabio, Mimiko, Ikimi others condemns action of security agencies

…..Akpabio,  Mimiko, Ikimi others condemns action of security agencies 

By Linda Nwogu,-Port Harcourt ——

 

In what could be described as last minute face saving move, the Ahmed Makarfi led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has rescheduled its national convention, and has extended the tenure of the Ahmed Makarfi caretaker committee by one year.

The extension also means the party will hold its next convention after one year. The party says this will them room to resolve lingering lawsuits.

The announcement was made Wednesday at the party’s secretariat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, by the convention planning committee chairman, Governor Nyesom Wike.

According to him, the decision followed the inability of the party to hold its repeat national convention in the Rivers State capital after a Federal High Court in Abuja stopped the convention.

PDP National Convention approved the extension of the tenure of the National Caretaker Committee led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi by 12 months.
The motion was moved by Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekeremadu and Seconded by the Former Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Zainab Maina.

The Chairman of the National Convention Planning Committee, Nyesom Wike put the question for the extension  of the  lifespan  of the committee,  which  was unanimously  approved.

The National Caretaker Committee was expanded to have a membership of 13 persons. The National Convention further approved that no member of the current National Caretaker Committee will contest elections whenever  it is held.

The National  Convention  had earlier  adopted a motion  moved by the Minority  Leader,  Leo Ogor to amend the agenda  of  the  National Convention  and step down the issue of election.

The National Convention of the PDP took place at the Secretariat of the PDP in Rivers State along Aba road after the Federal Government deployed  security  agencies  to take over the Sharks Stadium in Port Harcourt  where the event  was billed to take place.

Party leaders in separate goodwill messages at the National Convention condemned the Federal Government for entrenching political impunity that is a threat to democracy.

In his acceptance speech, Chairman of the PDP National Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi assured that the party will continue to forge ahead.

He condemned  the invasion  of  the  earlier venue of the National Convention,  pointing  out  that  it was undemocratic  for the security agencies  to  take action illegally.

Chairman of the NationaL convention Planning Committee, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike stated that the PDP will always survive all obstacles because the people are insisting love with the party.
Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu said the suffering in the country has led to the people craving for the PDP to return.

Former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido said that the PDP is the choice of all Nigerians because it is a democrat party.

Other leaders who condemned  the  action  of  the  security  agencies  during the  National Convention include  the Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko and Former Minister of External Affairs,  Chief Tom Ikimi.

The National Executive Committee, NEC, which Senator Ahmed Makarfi has earlier inaugurated later met at the Government House and decided to postpone the convention, which would have seen the election of new set of leaders for the party.

Senator Makarfi has inaugurated the National Executive Committee of the party, even as security personnel sealed off the venue of the party national convention.

Performing the inauguration at the Government House, Port Harcourt, Senator Makarfi said that the National Executive Committee, NEC, include the Board: The PDP Governors, National Assembly Caucus, Board of Trustees, National Caucus, 36 State PDP chairmen and national officers of the Party.

He said in the absence of the elected National officers, the National Caretaker Committee members will be part of NEC.

The National Caretaker Committee Chairman said that the National Caretaker Committee members seize to be NEC members once national officers are elected.

At the meeting were PDP Governors, National Assembly Caucus, Board of Trustees, National Caucus, 36 State PDP chairmen and national Caretaker Committee members of the Party.