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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) plans will hold a non-elective national convention in Abuja on August 12, 2017.
The decision was taken on Tuesday, following series of consultative meetings involving the party’s National Caucus, the Board of Trustees, the National Executive Committee and members of the Caretaker Committee.
The meeting was held at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
Party spokesman, Dayo Adeyeye explained that time constraint forced the party to opt for the non elective convention which is expected to extend the tenure of the Ahmed Makarfi–led Caretaker Committee in order to be able to conduct an elective convention before December.
The current tenure of the committee will end on August 16 and according to Adeyeye, it would be practically impossible to meet timelines prescribed by the Electoral Act and the party’s constitution for the conduct of elective convention, if the tenure of the Makarfi-led committee is not extended.
Going by provisions of the Electoral Act, the party is required within 21 days, to notify the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in writing of a pending elective convention.
Another decision taken by the party on Tuesday is to disband the caretaker committees set up in Jigawa and Benue States by sacked National Chairman Ali Modu Sheriff shortly after he was declared chairman by the Court of Appeal in February.
The two state chapters have been directed to revert to their executive committees prior to their dissolution. Many other states where parallel executives were set up by Sheriff are also to revert to their original status.
The party plans also to set up standing Disciplinary Committee and a Reconciliation Committee to handle discipline and reconciliation.
Party faithfuls who attended the meeting include former President Goodluck Jonathan, leaders and members of the six geopolitical zones, state governors and members of the National Assembly.
Also in attendance were former governors, former ministers, past party chairmen and other former executive members.
Visible at the meeting were David Mark, Remi Bakare, Stella Omu, Godswill Akpabio, Nyesom Wike, Sule Lamido, Ahmadu Ali and also Uche Secondus.
Others were Olisa Metu, Jonah Jang, Jerry Gana, Grace Bent, Gabriel Suswam, Emmanuel Udom, Sen Ifeanyi Okowa, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and Darius Ishyaku
The other persons were Jonah Jang, Tom Ikimi, Vincent Ogbulafor, Ahmadu Ali, Jimi Agbaje, Solomon Ewuga, Liyel Imoke, Ibrahim Mantu, Emeka Ihedioha and Dimeji Bankole.
Sheriff and his loyalists were absent.