Despite a pending court case seeking to halt the planned National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, the opposition party has proceeded with preparations by appointing a 13-member screening committee for aspirants.
The committee, announced on Saturday by the Chairman of the National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC) and Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, is chaired by former Ondo State governorship candidate Eyitayo Jegede (SAN). Other members include former Osun State Governor Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former Imo State Governor Achike Udenwa, Mrs. Josephine Anenih, Hajiya Mariam Chiroma, Felix Hassan Hyat, Emmanuel Enoidem, Mrs. Aduke Maina, and Zainab Maina. Hon. Mohammed Diri will serve as deputy chairman, while Asue Ighodalo and Jacob Otorkpa were named secretary and deputy secretary respectively. The screening exercise will commence on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Justice James Omotoso of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has fixed October 31 for judgment in the suit seeking to stop the PDP’s convention. The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, was filed by Imo PDP Chairman Austine Nwachukwu, Abia Chairman Amah Abraham Nnanna, and South-south Secretary Turnah George all said to be allies of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
In another development, the PDP in Kebbi State has rejected the reported nomination of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki as the consensus candidate for the position of National Chairman, citing a lack of consultation with stakeholders in the North-west zone.
While Northern PDP leaders had earlier endorsed Turaki, a former Minister of Special Duties, as consensus candidate during a meeting in Abuja, Governor Fintiri clarified that the endorsement did not exclude others from contesting.
Addressing journalists in Birnin Kebbi, the PDP Publicity Secretary in the state, Sani Dododo, said the state chapter distanced itself from the endorsement, insisting that the North-west should be allowed to select its own candidate in line with the party’s zoning arrangement.
“The North-west elders should be allowed to sit down, deliberate, and produce a candidate that will represent the zone,” Dododo stated, urging the National Working Committee (NWC) to permit the region to decide its preferred aspirant.
