The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will today commence a series of statewide congresses to define its leadership.
The commencement of the party’s exercise comes amid fears of a nationwide protest over the harsh economic situation in the country.
According to postings by a group on X, Take it back Movement, the protest is scheduled to hold from August 1. But party chairmen in the state say they are ready for the exercise today, adding that the protest does not affect the party activity in any way.
Chairman of the PDP state chairmen, Hassan Hyatt, in a chat with LEADERSHIP Weekend, said while the states-wide ward congresses would hold days before the protest, party members who will participate in the congresses would not have to walk long distances because it is a lower election.
However, according to the PDP’s timetable for the congresses, today was designated for election of ward excos and three ad hoc delegates in 23 states across the country.
The states are Akwa Ibom, Ekiti, ebonyi, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Rivers, kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, Jigawa, FCT, Niger, Benue, Plateau, Taraba, Bauchi, Gombe, Enugu, Imo, Abia, Ogun.
The PDP had after its contentious National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on April 18, released a timetable for holding congresses to elect party officials to fill leadership positions at ward, local government levels in 23 states.
The period of the exercise which begins today stretches to September 26 when the much-anticipated NEC meeting to decide who controls the soul of the party will hold.
Recall that the rift between former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 PDP presidential candidate, and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike has created a major divide in the party.
Checks by LEADERSHIP Weekend showed that while most states where the PDP congresses will hold enjoy measurable internal party stability, others like Rivers, Katsina, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, have been enmeshed in internal wrangling.
But reacting to concerns about the protest, chairman of PDP state chairmen, Hyatt, said there was no cause for alarm ahead of the ward congresses today.
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