There is an uneasy calm in the Velodrome, located inside the M. K. O. Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, the venue of the presidential primary election of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the PDP was forced to hold an emergency meeting after the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) shifted its presidential primary, following INEC’s extension of the deadline for party primaries.
At the time of filing this report, the accreditation of national delegates for the 2022 PDP National Convention to decide its presidential flag bearer for the 2023 general election has commenced.
The delegates from different states of the federation are arriving the venue for accreditation, and are being accredited simultaneously state by state using the six geopolitical zones.
The delegates are being accredited with their means of identification which include driver licence, INEC Permanent Voter Cards, National Identify Cards on the list on delegates provided by the party.
As at the time of filing this report, Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa-Ibom, Kogi, Benue, Niger, Abia, Anambra have finished their accreditation.
Other states going on with their accreditations are: Adamawa, Sokoto, Nasarawa and Ebonyi
Oyo, Lagos and Ondo states arere already at the venue waiting for their accreditation.
Chairman of the PDP Special Convention, Sen. David Mark and Governors of Bayelsa, Duoye Diri, his Delta counterpart, Ifeanyi Okowa, with other members of the convention committee, visited various accreditation points to inspect the process.
The delegates are expected to move in groups to the velodrome area of the stadium, the main venue of the convention after their accreditations.
The accreditation commenced after the PDP insisted that it must continue with the primary election despite the APC shifting its primary. The PDP insisted the primary must hold as scheduled.
A statement released by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, on Saturday in Abuja reads: “The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to speculations from some strange quarters that it has postponed its 2022 National Convention holding today, Saturday, May 28, 2022
“For the avoidance of doubt, the PDP states in very clear terms that is has not postponed its 2022 Special National Convention. The 2022 Special National Convention of the PDP is on course as scheduled today, Saturday May 28, 2022 and there is no contemplation whatsoever for postponement”.
Ologunagba also asserted that the PDP as a party of due process has since commenced processes to elect its Presidential candidate for the 2023 general elections in line with its mission to rescue and rebuild our nation from misrule.
“Our Party remains focused and will not be distracted by the shenanigans and underhand dealings of the rudderless, deceitful and manipulative All Progressives Congress (APC), which is desperate to orchestrate uncertainties, derail the electoral process and subvert the Will of the people in the 2023 general elections.
“The PDP 2022 Special National Convention is already on course, our Presidential candidates, national delegates, teeming members of our great Party and Nigerians from across the country are set for the National Convention, which will at the end, credibly and transparently deliver a Presidential candidate who will be the choice of majority of Nigerians in the 2023 general elections.
“The PDP therefore charges our members, swarming supporters, the International Community, election monitors and the general public to disregard and completely discountenance suggestions that the 2022 Special National Convention has been postponed.
“The APC is fighting a lost battle as its resort to manipulations and underhand dealings can never sway Nigerians in their determination to vote out the APC in 2023 and commence the rebuilding of our nation on the platform of the PDP,” he added.
Security beefed up at MKO Abiola Stadium as PDP holds convention
Meanwhile, there is tight security within and outside the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, venue of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention.
There is a presence of security officers including police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, Department of State Security, at different locations around the stadium.
Accredited delegates, media, party officials and all participants at the convention were seen subjected to screening at different points, starting from the entry gate to the entrance of the velodrome of the stadium, which is the main venue of the convention.
Security vehicles were also stationed at strategic locations within the premises to forestall possible breakdowns of law and order.
The presence of medical teams attending to participants of the convention in need of medical attention.
Access to the stadium is strictly restricted to only participants with tags, while only VIPs and essential vehicles are allowed into the stadium.
At the time of filing this report, some state delegates are already seated at the venue of the convention.
Also observed are the 25 voting cubicles, and 14 ballots boxes already set up at the venue.