Ugwuanyi is the chairman of the PDP’s Zoning Committee

The leading opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has named Enugu State Governor, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, as chairman of the committee to identify where its next national chairman should emerge in a last-minute move to realign all dissident voices ahead of the 2023 general election.

Alhaji Ahmadu Fintiri, his Adamawa State counterpart, was also named chairman of the PDP National Convention Planning Committee.

Kola Ologbondiyan, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, made the revelation while briefing journalists on the resolutions of the PDP’s 93rd National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Wednesday at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

He added that the NEC also named Sen. Douye Diri, the Governor of Bayelsa State, as the Deputy Chairman of the National Convention Organizing Committee, and Engr. Seyi Makinde, the Governor of Oyo State, as the committee’s secretary.

Dr. Samuel Ortom, the Governor of Benue State, has been selected as the Zoning Committee’s Deputy Chairman, while Barr Mahdi Aliyu Mohammed, the Deputy Governor of Zamfara State, has been appointed as the committee’s Secretary.

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“NEC gathered today to examine crucial matters concerning the party,” he stated. The NEC applauds the National Working Committee, the PDP Governors’ Forum, the Board of Trustees (BoT), the national assembly caucus, and other stakeholders for their efforts in resolving the party’s difficulties.

“The national convention planning committee, as well as the zoning committee to zone national working committee offices, were approved by the NEC.

“The National Executive Committee approved Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, the Governor of Adamawa State, as Chairman of the organizing committee for the 2021 National Convention.

“The committee’s deputy chairman is Senator Douye Diri, the governor of Bayelsa State, and the secretary is Engr Seyi Makinde, the governor of Oyo State.

“The Chairman of the Zoning Committee, Rt Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Governor of Enugu State, was approved by the NEC.

“The Governor of Benue State, Dr Samuel Ortom, is the deputy chairman, and Barr. The committee’s secretary is Mahdi Aliyu Mohammed.

“NEC charged the committees to work tirelessly to ensure the national convention’s success.

“The Senate David Mark committee, which is interfering in some areas connected to our party’s leadership concerns, has submitted its findings to the NEC.

“The David Mark committee promised that all court proceedings are being addressed.

“The NEC expresses its gratitude to Nigerians for their faith in the PDP and for the collective solidarity and support they have shown our party during this challenging time.”

The fate of the party’s embalmed National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, was not tabled for discussion, according to the party’s spokesperson, just as the NEC did not deliberate on the deadline for the various committees to submit their reports.

Earlier in the opening session, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar stated that the PDP is the only political party that can overcome the recent issues it has faced without collapsing.

He congratulated the members of the party for their unwavering commitment to democracy and the rule of law.

He praised the party’s various organizations, particularly the PDP Governors Forum, for providing leadership to the party during the recent crises.

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In his remarks, the party’s Acting Chairman, Chief Akinwonmi, stated that the purpose of Thursday’s NEC meeting was to approve the committees that had been agreed upon at the previous NEC meeting.

He warned that the success of the October conference would benefit the entire country.

Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, the chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and the governor of Sokoto State, assured that governors under the party’s umbrella would work together to bring the party victory in 2023.