Di Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) don finally hold im national convention for Abuja, and di whole matter don dey full of gist. As delegates from all di 36 states gather for Velodrome inside National Stadium, di Delta State PDP Chairman, Peter Mrakpor, come out strong to debunk one serious rumour wey dey fly upandan.
Mrakpor, wey be Senior Advocate of Nigeria, talk say all dis yarn about court injunction wey wan stop di convention na pure false news. Him dey vex for how people dey spread dis kain misinformation. “Our convention go hold as scheduled. No court injunction dey. Di claims na false and misleading,” Mrakpor yarn with strong voice.
Di convention wey start around 6pm on Sunday na di one wey di Wike group organise. Nyesom Wike, di FCT Minister, him loyalists don kick off di event with full force. Dem dey expect say Abdulrahman Mohammed, di current Chairman of PDP Caretaker Committee, go return as National Chairman. Na from North Central dis man come, and dis one mean say di party still dey follow di zoning arrangement wey give Presidency to South.
Samuel Anyanwu sef dey expected to continue as National Secretary. Okechukwu Osuoha, former deputy national legal adviser, go return as Auditor. Umar Bature go still hold im position as National Organising Secretary. For Publicity Secretary position, Haruna Mohammed go replace Debo Ologunagba.
BusinessDay gather say over 2500 delegates from across Nigeria mobilise for di convention. Di Abdulrahman Mohammed-led National Caretaker Committee get recognition to run party affairs after di Mohammed Danjuma-led Federal Court of Appeal panel give judgement on appeal wey di Tanimu Turaki-led PDP faction file. Dis committee come move in to organise di convention after di November 15 and 16 Ibadan convention wey bring Turaki group get annulment.
But as PDP dey hold convention, another gist dey ground. Six PDP lawmakers for Ogun State House of Assembly don jump ship join APC. Na Hon. Lukman Adeleye, Minority Leader and member for Odogbolu constituency lead di move. Oda defectors na Hon. Bello Oluwadamilare (Sagamu I), Hon. Lawal Samusideen (Ogun Waterside), Hon. Adesanya Oluseun Samuel (Ijebu North-East), Hon. Owode Waliu Ifedolapo (Ijebu East), and Hon. Dickson Kolawole Awolaja (Remo North).
Dem attend APC national convention for Abuja to formalise dia defection. Adeleye talk to Daily Trust say na crisis inside PDP at national level cause dia move. Him mention di leadership tussle between Kabiru Turaki and Nyesom Wike factions as main reason. “All dis litigation and counter-litigation no dey desirable. We feel say instead of we dey run under Wike faction wey dey more or less with presidency, why we no align with presidency itself?” Adeleye explain.
Meanwhile, one former NNPP National Chairman wey now be APC chieftain, Prof. Ahmed Rufai Alkali, don come out to clear air. People dey yarn say him don join PDP, but Alkali talk say na fake news. Him insist say him still dey active APC member and him main concern na to deliver President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for second term.
Alkali talk say one manipulated image dey circulate on WhatsApp with PDP colours for background. Him describe am as “fake, manipulated, and product of malicious act.” Him talk say on di day wey people dey claim say him dey PDP meeting, him actually dey APC National Convention for Eagle Square as Chairman of Rapporteur and Proceedings Sub-Committee.
“I resign formally from PDP nearly ten years ago with Professor Jerry Gana, Professor Tunde Adeniran, Alhaji Shehu Gabam and many others. Since den, my political journey remain open and consistent,” Alkali yarn. Him talk say him dey focus on “Tinubu 2 Terms – Forward Nigeria, 2027” project wey dem go unveil soon.
Back to PDP convention matter, Mrakpor warn delegates from Delta State to ignore “rumour mongers” and make sure dem participate fully for Abuja. Him describe people wey dey spread misinformation as enemies of di party wey wan create confusion and undermine PDP internal processes.
Di Delta PDP chairman reaffirm di party commitment to successful and hitch-free convention. Him emphasise say no court order dey stop di exercise. All necessary arrangements for di convention remain intact according to Mrakpor. Him urge party members to focus on di main event instead of listening to false rumours wey dey fly around.
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