Tukur and Nyako
National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor Murtala Nyako of his home state-Adamawa-have taken their battle for the soul of the party in the state to the PDP special national convention opening in Abuja today.
Each side wants only its own supporters accredited for the convention.
The dispute was the major challenge facing the party last night ahead of the convention opening.
But Tukur appeared to have an edge with the party leadership insisting on accrediting delegates identified by Chief Joel Madaki-led faction of the party, which is loyal to the national chairman.
A member of the interim National Working Committee (INWC) said: “We have made our position known that we will only recognise delegates presented by Joel Madaki Executive Council in Adamawa State .
“We will not allow any delegate from Minjiyawa Umar Kugama faction to be part of the National Convention.
“The party is not going to stop statutory delegates from the convention. But other purportedly elected delegates by Kugama faction should forget coming.”
The national chairman is also said to be insisting on picking those who will work with him in the national executive committee.
On this, he has the support of the Presidency, although other interests in the party are also insisting on having their elected candidates.
The most contentious is the position of the National Publicity Secretary which was vacated by Chief Olisa Metuh in June. Metuh is still in the race.
While the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, is backing Metuh for the job, Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State is supporting Obi Madueke for the position.
Madueke is a brother-in-law to the Minister of Petroleum, Dieziani Allison Madueke. Also in contention is Longers Anyanwu, who is being backed by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha.
Other contestants for the position include Chide Ofodile, whose chief backer is billionaire businessman, Sir Emeka Ofor, while another Igbo businessman, Arthur Eze, has thrown his weight behind another aspirant, Mr. Okey Muo Aroh.
It is also believed that some power brokers in the Presidency are supporting a neutral aspirant, Dr. Katch Ononuju, who is perceived to be free of any influence of the power brokers. Forces in the Presidency are said to be aligned with Tukur on the choice of Ononuju who is highly respected for his intellect and grasp of political issues.
About 6,000 policemen, security agents, members of the Civil Defence Corps and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) have been deployed in and around the Eagle’s Square venue of the convention to ensure a trouble-free gathering.
No fewer than 3,500 delegates are expected to vote at the convention where 17 national officers will stand for election.
Delegates will also vote to fill the vacant positions in the National Working Committee (NWC). Occupants of the positions were eased out courtesy of a report by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which voided the process through which they emerged in the 2012 convention.
The Square was swept by security men ahead of the convention.
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