Stop threat against our convention, PDP tells Buhari

THE People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has raised alarm over the possible disruption of its weekend national convention by some “overzealous” elements of the All Progressive Congress (APC), and has consequently called on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene.

Addressing a press conference at the national secretariat on Wednesday, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, said the PDP has no evidence that the president has knowledge of the attempt to cause confusion.

While appealing to the president to provide enough security for the exercise, he said it was in the interest of the president to nip the plot in the bud as it would be to his credit.

The party spokesman said: “I want to draw your attention to an issue that bothers us. We have credible information that some overzealous elements in the government are trying by any means to disrupt the convention of the PDP; to make sure this convention does not hold successfully.

“They have been trying every effort but we are happy that we have no information that it is coming from the very top. But some overzealous elements in the administration are bent…It is very credible information and they are doing everything possible to make sure that this convention is disrupted.

“They are afraid that if the PDP should hold a successful convention, that their days in government are numbered.

“By the time we hold this convention and our officers are elected and they take office next year; there will be a floodgate of people even from APC to the PDP

“This is credible information and that is why we are appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari to please rein in his aides. We have no evidence that the President is aware of this.

“It is happening and we are calling on him to do his own investigation and to call those who are trying to cause this problem to desist because it is capable not only of destroying this democracy but also capable of destroying the country.”

While describing the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), as a “house of cards,” he observed that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has led the way in the expected defection of APC members to the PDP.

He also revealed that Atiku may not vote at the convention had only rejoined the party recently but would be delivering a speech at the two-day exercise.

On the former Vice President’s participation in the convention, he said: “All you need to do is pick up the constitution of the party and see whether Atiku is qualified to vote or not.”

When pressed further, he said: “First of all, I can tell you that we are happy with Atiku coming back to the PDP. It’s very exciting for all of us. It’s a good omen for everybody in the PDP. He was one of the founding fathers, one of those who built this party and he’s coming back home. His room was never occupied. So we have opened it for him.

“He will be part of this convention. He will even make a speech at the convention but he may not be voting at the convention.”

The party spokesman similarly disclosed that Osun State would not participate in the national convention because of the chapter’s inability to organise congresses.

Beyond that he said, all arrangements have been put in place for a successful national convention which he said would be the first time in the history of the party that the offices would be keenly contested for.

He stated that that the convention process cannot be manipulated as he assured that the exercise would be free, fair and transparent.

He added: “It will be an open and transparent process. Nobody can manipulate this system. We know it will negatively affect this party.

We have our integrity at stake. So, nobody should entertain fear.”

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the PDP National Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, has denied confirmation of an interest in seeking to fly the flag of PDP in 2019.

A statement issued by his spoke, Mukhtar Sirajo in Abuja on Wednesday said: “This is not a very true reflection of what the Distinguished Senator gave out in a chat with some newsmen couple of days ago.

“The fact is the Senator was asked what threat the return of Atiku Abubakar to the party portended to the aspirations of others who had either made their intentions were known or those, who, like him were rumoured to be nursing such ambition.

“His answer was that Atiku’s return would not, in any way adversely affect the rights of any member of the party to aspire to any position, adding that there were no preconditions to the return as Atiku Abubakar did not ask for, neither did the party offer any concessions to him beforehand.

“Senator Ahmed Makarfi wishes to assure the teeming Members and supporters of the PDP and indeed the entire country that his own major preoccupation at the moment is to discharge the responsibility given to him to lead the process of repositioning the party, which he hopes will culminate in the conduct of a very credible and transparent convention this Saturday. This is what matters the most to him at this moment.”