The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, some eminent leaders and concerned stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have said for the party to hold a peaceful national convention in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, leadership positions must remain open, inclusive and competitive.
The party, they said, should also ensure regional equity in accordance with the PDP’s long-standing traditions.
The conditions were given after a closed-door meeting in Abuja .
They presented the conditions in a communique at the end of the meeting which started by 8:45pm and ended Tuesday morning.
The communique read by the former Benue Governor Samuel Ortom gave conditions that must be met to prevent the upcoming national convention from being invalidated because; “legitimate members of the party would be disenfranchised.”
Ortom said: “We, the Eminent Leaders and Concerned Stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), having met to review the state of our great party and assessed the critical issues leading to the forthcoming National Convention, do hereby express our collective commitment to the principles of equity, justice, inclusivity, and the rule of law – values upon which the PDP was founded and upon which its survival depends.
In the spirit of unity and progress, and mindful of the party’s historical role as a custodian of Nigeria’s democratic aspirations, we considered it imperative and expedient to make the following observations and convey our demands to the party leadership and the National Working Committee (NWC) as we prepare for the National Convention.”
According to the communique, the group observed “PDP stands at a defining crossroads where its ability to reconcile internal disputes, uphold fairness, and respect constitutional processes will determine its future relevance.
The PDP group called on the National Working Committee (NWC) to urgently conduct fresh, transparent and inclusive congresses in Ebonyi and Anambra States in line with the judgments of the courts.
