- Contractors get court orders to ‘empty’ party’s purse
- Aspirants for convention now to pay into treasurer’s account
The National Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, last week, approved the amount to be paid by aspirants for the various offices to be contested for at the convention scheduled to hold on December 9, and the money would not be paid to the account of the party!
Aspirants were, instead, directed to pay to the account of the Treasurer of the Caretaker Committee, Mr. Odion Ugbesia.
Insiders revealed that the party took the decision because it was still owing contractors huge sums of money used for the 2015 general elections.
Our correspondent also gathered that many of the contractors got court judgment that any money in the party account should be paid to them. Consequently, the party decided that aspirants should pay into the private account of the Treasurer of the party, it was learnt.
To whom should they pay? Is it not the Treasurer? I’m not ready to comment on it
According to a statement by the party over the weekend, the offices to be contested for and the amount to be paid for the expression of interest forms by aspirants are: Chairman- N3million, Vice-Chairman – N2million, Secretary – N2million, Deputy national Secretary – N1.5million, Organising Secretary – N1.5million, Publicity Secretary – N1.5million, Financial Secretary – N1.5million, Treasurer -N1.5 million, Auditor – N1.5million, Women leader – NI.5million, ex-officio – N500, 000.
The Publicity Secretary of the PDP Caretaker Committee, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, argued that it was natural to pay such money to the Treasurer. “To whom should they pay? Is it not the Treasurer? I’m not ready to comment on it,” he said.
Meanwhile, aspirants for different offices have commenced full-scale campaign with some of them opening campaign offices. For instance, Chief Olabode George, last Wednesday, opened his campaign office in Mataima, Abuja. The ceremony was attended by another leading aspirant, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, in the spirit of comradeship and to show that the contest is a family affair.
Aspirants rely on the list of delegates released by the party in August, to campaign. The list showed that southern delegates had the highest number of delegates with 1,084 delegates, while the South had 839. According to the list, Akwa Ibom State had the highest number of delegates – 111. Surprisingly, Kwara State has no delegate yet. Party leaders said Kwara State had zero delegate because of factionalisation and that “when the party eventually holds its state congress, it may be able to present delegates for the convention scheduled for December 9.”
The difference in the list of delegates from different states was informed by the fact that elected officials, such as governors, deputy governors, senators, members of the Federal House of Representatives, members of the various Houses of Assembly in different states, elected council chairmen and councilors, are automatic delegates. In addition, there are those elected national delegates at various state congresses. Consequently, states with no elected officials have fewer delegates. There are also states with serious internal wrangling, which made it impossible for them to present delegates.
Apart from elected officials, state chairmen, state secretaries, women leaders and youth leaders are also automatic delegates. Also, all Board of Trustee members and former members of the Central Working Committees are automatic delegates.
A break-down of the list across the state shows that the South-South zone had the highest number with 504 delegates. This is followed by North-West with 457, South-East, 356; North-Central, 267; South-West, 224; and North-East, 214.
A state-by-state breakdown is as follows:
South-South: Akwa Ibom State, 111; Balyesa, 53; Delta, 104; Cross River, 83; Edo, 60; and Rivers, 93.
South-East: Abia, 83; Anambra, 20; Ebonyi, 67; Enugu, 87; and Imo, 106.
South west: Ekiti, 75; Lagos, 60; Ogun, 21; Ondo, 56; Osun, 9; and Oyo, 3.
North-East: Adamawa, 4; Borno, 5; Gombe, 62; Kebbi, 24; Traba, 76; and Yobe, 43.
North-Central: Benue, 63; Kogi, 45; Kwara, 0; Nasarawa, 42; Niger, 63; and Plateau, 54.
North-West: Bauchi, 51 ; Jigawa, 65; Kaduna, 72; Katsina, 110; Sokoto 23; and Zamfara, 37.
A further breakdown on the leaders from each state shows that since the party is not in power at the federal level, state governors are leading their various states to the convention, while members of the BoT lead where there are no senators or national officers of the party.
Abia
Abia will be led by Governor Victor Ikpeazu and his deputy, Ude Oko Chukwu. BoT members are former National Chairman, Vincent Ogbulafor; former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara; and Gloria Nwankwo. There are three serving Senators -T. A. Orji, Eyinnaya Abaribe, and Mao Ohungbuwa. There are four members of the state executive, members of the House of Representatives, state House of Assembly, local government chairmen and elected national delegates.
Adamawa
Adamawa State will be led by members of the BoT. They are: Air Commodore Suleiman, Ambassador W. B. Juta, Alhaji Hassan Adamu and Hajia Zainab Maina.
Anambra
Anambra delegates will be led by the Secretary of the Caretaker Committee, Senator Ben.Ndi Obi; Senator Stella Oduah, nine House of Representatives members and 20 members of the state House of Assembly.
Akwa Ibom
The state will be led by Governor Udom Emmanuel and his deputy, Moses Ekpo. Others are former Governor Godswill Akpabio; Senator Nelson Effiong, Senator Bassey Akpan, four members of the state party executives, 10 House of Representatives members, 25 House of Assembly members, and 31 council chairmen.
Bauchi
Delegates from the state will be led by Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi and BoT members, comprising Kaulaha Aliyu, Ahmadu Adamu Muazu, a former chairman of the party.
Balyesa
The state is to be led by Governor Henry Dickson and his deputy, Rear Admiral John Jonah. Others are BoT members, comprising former President Godluck Jonathan, AVM Larry Koinyam, Mrs. Remi Kuku, Senators Emmanuel Paulker, Murray Bruce and Foster Ogola. There are also five members of the House of Representatives, 19 local government chairmen and eight council chairmen.
Benue
The state is to be led by BoT member, former President of the Senate, David Mark; Mrs. Margaret Icheen, three House of Representatives members, 12 party chairman and 22 members of the state House of Assembly.
Borno
Borno is to be led by BoT member, Alhaji Ibrahim Bunu, Mariam Ciroma, Muhammed Abba Gana, Dr. Shetima Mustapha and Senator Mohammed Sanusi Dagash.
Cross River
The state will be led to the convention by Governor Ben Ayade and his deputy, Ivara Su. Others are BoT member, Pam Ogah, Prof. Stella –Afos, Senator Sashim Bassey, Senator Rose Oko, Senator John Enoh, eight House of Representatives members, 24 House of Assembly members and 16 local government chairmen.
Delta
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and his deputy, Barrister Kingsley Ohuaro, will lead the state to the convention. There are also BoT members, Sonny Odogwu, Stella Omu, Chief Enamoth Judith, Mariam Ali, James Manager, and Peter Nwaboshi. In addition, there are 10 House of Representatives members, 27 chairmen and 25 party chairmen.
Ebonyi
The state is to be led by Governor David Umahi and his deputy, Dr. Eric Kelechi Igwe. There is also BoT member, former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim; Patience Ogodo, Senators Sonni Ogbuoji, Dr. Sam Egwu and Obinna Ogba. There are six House of Representatives members and 35 House of Assembly members.
Edo
The state will be led by former BoT Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih; Chief Tom Ikimi, Gabriel Igbinedion, Daisy Danjuma, Mike Igianomehe. There are also Clifford Opia, Pham Mathew Uridgahide. Others are five members of the House of Representatives, four members of the House of Assembly and 18 local government chairmen.
Ekiti
Ekiti State will be led by Governor Ayo Fayose and his deputy, Prof. Olusola Kolapo. There are also two BoT members, including C. K. Awoyelu and Prof. Tunde Adeniran, a leading contestant for the chairmanship of the party. There are also Senators Abiodun Olujimi, Fatimat Raji Rasaki, and Senator Duro Faseyi. There are six House of Representatives members, 26 House of Assembly members and 16 council chairmen.
Enugu
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and deputy governor, Mrs Cecilia Ejeilo, will lead the state to the convention. There is also a BoT member, who was a former national chairman of the party, Okwesilieze Nwodo; Mrs Sally Egwowun, Mrs Justina Eze, Fidelia Akunbata Njeze, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu; Chukwuka Utasi and Senator Emeka Nnaji. There are eight House Representatives and 24 House of Assembly members and 17 council chairmen, who are part of the delegates for the convention.
Gombe
Governor Ibrahim Dankwabo and his deputy, Dr. Charles Iliya, will lead the state to the convention. Senator Joshua Lidani and three House of Representatives members are automatic delegates for the convention. There are also 15 House of Assembly members, 15 local government chairmen and 11 council chairmen, who are delegates.
Imo
Business mogul, Emmanuel Iwuanyawu, a BoT member, will lead his state to the convention. There is also a glamorous former Minister of Aviation, Kema Chikwe, on the list. Others are: Senators Uzodima and Anyawu Samuel, former deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha; eight members of the House of Representatives, four members of the House of Assembly, 22 local government chairmen and 27 council chairmen.
Jigawa
Jigawa State will be led by former Governor Sule Lamido, who is also a leading Presidential aspirant. The party has five House of Assembly members and 35 Local Government chairmen as delegates for the convention.
Kaduna
The Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee, who is also a former governor of the state, Ahmed Makarfi, will lead delegates from the state to the convention. Others are former Vice-President Namadi Sambo, five House of Representatives members, six House of Assembly members and 23 local government chairmen.
Kano
Chairman of the BoT, Aminu Wali, will lead the Kano delegates to the convention. Others are Rabi Muktar, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Salisu Buhari, and 44 local government chairmen of the party.
Katsina
BoT member, Ibrahim Shema, Babajo Ibrahim Funtua, and 34 local government chairmen of the party are delegates for the convention.
Kebbi
Taminu Kabiru Turaki and 21 local government chairmen of the party are delegates to the convention.
Kogi
A former chairman of the party, Ahmadu Ali, will lead Kogi delegates to the convention. There are also General David Jemibewon, Salihu Ibrahim, Alhaji Sule Ajayi, Senator Aidoko Ali, Senator Ahmed Ogembe Salau and eight members of the House of Assembly.
Lagos
A leading chairmanship aspirant and BoT member, Chief Olabode George, will lead Lagos to the convention. Other delegates are: Aduke Maina, six members of the House of Representatives, one member of the House of Assembly and 20 local government chairmen of the party.
Nasarawa
A member of the Bot, Senator Wali Jibrin, will lead the state’s delegates to the convention. Others are Senators Suleiman Asonya Adokwe and Aruwa Gyunka. There are also six members of the House of Representatives and three council chairmen.
Niger
A former BoT Secretary, Prof. Jerry Gana, will lead delegates to the convention. There are also A. A. Kure, three state House of Assembly members and a party local government chairman as delegates.
Ogun
A BoT member, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and his arch-rival, Buruji Kashamu, will lead the state to the convention. Daniel is also aspiring to be chairman of the party. Other delegates of note include former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole. Others are members of the House of Representatives, namely Oladipo Adebutu, Abdel Mojel and Segun Adekoya, and nine members of the Ogun State House of Assembly.
Ondo
A BoT member, former Governor Olusegun Mimiko, Bode Olajumoke, four House of Representatives members, eight House of Assembly members and 18 local government chairmen are delegates.
Osun
BoT members, Shuib Oyedokun, and Chief Ebenezer Babatope will lead Osun State delegates to the convention. Others are Erelu Olusola Obada, Senator Ademola Nurudeen Adeleke, two House of Representatives members and two House of Assembly members.
Oyo
First Republic politician, Chief Richard Akinjide, will lead the Oyo delegates to the convention. Others are Alhaji Yekini Adeojo and one House of Assembly member.
Plateau
A former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu, will lead Senators Jeremiah Oseni and Jona Jang to the convention. There are five House of Representatives and seven House of Assembly members, who are also delegates to the convention.
Rivers
Governor Nyeson Wike and his deputy, Dr. Ipalio Harribanigo, will lead Rivers to the convention. Others are former Governor Peter Odili, who is a member of the BoT, Senator Osinakachukwu Ideozu, Senator George Thomson, former Deputy Speaker Austine Okpara, Uche Secondus, 10 House of Representatives members, 24 House of Assembly members and 24 council chairmen.
Sokoto
The state sent 23 names to represent the state as delegates. The particular names were not available at press time.
Taraba
Senator Darius Ishyaku and his deputy, Haruna Manu, will lead the state to the convention. Others are: BoT member, Adamu Baba; Senators Emmanuel Bwachi and Shuaibu Lau, three House of Representatives members, 15 House of Assembly members, and 16 council chairmen.
Yobe
A BoT member, Adamu Maina Waziri, will lead the state. Others are: Senator Mohammed Hassan, one House of Representatives member and 17 party chairmen.
Zamfara
A BoT member, Garba Ngdama, Senator Hassan Moh’d Nasiha and 14 party chairmen are delegates from the state.
FCT
BoT member, Esther Audu, Gen. A B Maman, Senator Philip Aduda and a member of the House of Representatives are delegates from the FCT.
