Politics 7 Reasons Why PDP Convention Will Fail Again

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For the second time in less than three months , the Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) will today gather for its National Convention at Port-Harcourt, the Rivers State Capital. The party has been embroiled in tense leadership crisis since it surrendered power to the now ruling All Progressives Congress after 16 years. The party on May 21 held parallel conventions in Abuja and Port Harcourt. The events ended in crisis. Rather than the proposed election, the party settled for a caretaker committee led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi. But Makarfi has since been embroiled in a battle of supremacy with Acting National Chairman Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff. Ali Modu Sheriff-led faction of the executive, which was dissolved by the Port Harcourt. Convention in May, has continued to drag the leadership of the party through the courts, while also recruiting converts by the day. As at the last count, the party is engrossed in no fewer than 15 court cases, all relating to the struggle for the national control.

In some minutes, the convention will start, but will it again end in crisis? Here is a look at some reasons why.

1. Conflicting court judgement: Two court judgements will cause the PDP Convention to fail again. Justice Ibrahim Watila of the Port Harcourt court gave the greenlight for the convention, but his Abuja counterpart, Justice Okon Abang stopped the convention. The judges were ruling on separate suits brought by the PDP caretaker committee led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi and the National Executive Committee (NEC) chaired by Senator Ali Modu Sheriff.

Justice Watila refused the request of the Sheriff camp to joined in the suit filed by the Convention Planning Committee secretary Senator Ben Obi against the police, Department of State Services (DSS) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Justice Ibrahim Watila of Port Harcourt ordered the convention to go on because there was nothing before him seeking otherwise, but Justice Okon Abang of Abuja suspended the convention because it was being planned in disobedience of his order. Watila ordered acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris, Commissioner of Police Francis Mobolaji Odesanya and Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) Lawal Musa Daura to ensure “adequate security at the meeting”.
He also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to monitor the convention.

2. Zoning and Dokpesi Factor: AIT Boss, Chief Aleogho Raymond Dokpesi has been visiting all around and campaigning for the National Chairmanship of the Party. He is only candidate to have toured all the six geopolitical zones ahead of today's convention. With Dokpesi being the only candidate in the race from the South-South, what will become of the zoning formula to have South West as the National Chair if Dokpesi wins?

3. South West Zoning Palava: Monday 8, August, the Southwest zone of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) met at the Government House, Alagbaka, Akure, Ondo State in an attempt to present consensus candidates for positions zoned to the region by the Southern Caucus.

The Southern Caucus of the Party in Port Harcourt has earlier zoned the office of National Chairman, National Auditor and Deputy National Publicity Secretary to the zone. At the end of the meeting, the caucus agreed to peg the National Chairmanship position between Lagos and Ogun State, Deputy National Publicity Secretary zoned to Oyo/Osun, National Treasurer zoned to Ondo/Ekiti.

The new arrangement streamlined the position of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party to three individuals. The former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, who is the only aspirant from the State; Chief Olabode George and Jimi Agbaje, both from Lagos State. Last week, Chief Bode claimed Jimi Agbaje betrayed him like Judas did to Jesus Christ, and requests that he backs out of the race. Is this not an indicator that the South West zone of the party will eventually end in crisis?

4. Ali Modu Sheriff Factor:

Factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has described as a hoax, the interlocutory order given by Port Harcourt division of the Federal High Court to the National Caretaker Committee of the party to hold today’s National Convention. Sheriff has been a major bone in the throat of the esrtwhile ruling party. His faction elected Matthew Iduoriyekemwen as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Edo State September 10 gubernatorial election. We should not be surprised to see another convention.

5. Aggrieved Candidates May Seek Court Injunction:

Because of the many troubles in the PDP, after today's convention, some of its aspirants may head to court to either seek that the convention be declared null and void or that some of the elected officers were rigged into office.

6. PDP Governors Would Wield Their Powers Again:
Already, the governors in the Peoples Democratic Party are seen as the most powerful steering the ship of the party in their direction. They played a major role in the installation and removal of embattled Ali Modu Sheriff. They also successfully installed Ahmed Makarfi with a condition that he would conduct the convention. A faction of the governors annointed Jimi Agbaje as candidate for the National Chair. Raymond Dokpesi, a strong contender has also stated that the party would go down if the governors go ahead with imposition.

7. Today's Convention Could Further Multiply The Factions And Tear The Party:

PDP is embroiled in factions. The party is yet to organise itself. It has been the major divisive factor in the party till date. The last convention is the result of what we have now. Today's Conveniton may not be different and further tear the party apart. Delegates will come from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory and each of them has his candidates for elective positions. Where the election is not favourable to some particular candidates, this could progress into politics of bitterness that could ruin the party further. The party elders are also not happy with the party.
 

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