As plots to stop Saturday convention thicken, PDP committee considers appeals

The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party is working tooth and nail to frustrate efforts by many aggrieved members to stop the national convention slated for OCtober 30 and 31, 2021.

This came as the Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Monday reserved its decision till Thursday on a motion filed by the suspended PDP Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, praying the court for an order suspending the party’s convention scheduled for Saturday.

Already, a 24-member Screening Appeals Committee led by Senator Ike Ekweremadu on Tuesday met to consider complaints received after the clearance and disqualification of aspirants for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee offices ahead of October 30 and 31, 2021 National Convention.

Ekweremadu, while speaking before the commencement of the sitting, said the committee received five appeals and petitions against a couple of cleared aspirants.

He said an appeal was received from Akintan Oludaisi from Ogun State who was not cleared to contest the position of Deputy National Secretary.

He said there was also a petition against the clearance of Timothy Osadolor from Edo State to run for the position of Deputy National Youth Leader.

He said the petitioner said aspirant was not a member of the party.

Ekweremadu said there were petitions against an aspirant for the position of National Youth Leader over alleged forgery of certificates, age falsification and non resignation of current position as a youth leader in his ward.

He added that another petition was received against Amb. Taofeek Arapaja, an aspirant for the position of Deputy National Chairman, South, for non resignation of his existing position.

The former deputy Senate president there were two petitions against the clearance of Senator Samuel Anyanwu to contest the position National Secretary, claiming that he took the party to court previously without exploring the internal mechanism for complaint as provided in the constitution.

He added that another petition was received in support of the disqualification of Dr Eddy Olafeso as an aspirant of the position of National Publicity Secretary, explaining that the aspirant didn’t appeal his non clearance.

Last week, the PDP Screening Sub-Committee led by a former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke Bello, disqualified four aspirants vying for NWC offices.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Accreditation Sub-Committee and Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, said members of the committee must be ready to work with sincere heart and show their commitment to ensure that the party remained strong.

Also, the PDP National Organising Secretary, Austin Akobundu, said, “Our committee has a very important role to play because accreditation is a prerequisite to a very successful, transparent National Convention.”