PDP dismisses report of parallel national convention, says all set for Nov 15, 16 in Ibadan

….Rates conduct of weekend bye elections low

By Lateef Ibrahim

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday declared that arrangements for its National convention slated for November 15 and 16 this year in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, are going on smoothly, dismissing any talk of parallel convention.

The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Hon Debo Ologunagba, said this while responding to a question on the speculation that that another group was planning a parallel convention for the party.

Ologunagba stated that he is not aware of any parallel convention anywhere, explaining that PDP is a party of process and is following all the laid down procedures for the conduct of a national convention.

The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP said, “We cannot be aware of a non-existing thing. And you said, it’s a the speculation, that’s your word. And that’s indeed a speculation.

“How do you have a national convention? There is a process and we’re a party of process, indeed. And what we do is that we follow the constitution of our party.

“Interestingly, the process has started, we have been in sync with our regulator, INEC. INEC has been attending all the meetings.They have witnesses to all the things we’re doing.

“That might be a media hype, people testing the waters. In-fact it does not exist.

“The local organizing committee is working hard. The venue committee, they’re working already ahead of time.

“Even before the inauguration of those sub-committees, they’re already working. And we’re methodical in the things we do.

“So it’s in the realm of conjecture, probably. I think it would be in the realm of hallucination. And this train has moved on. It’s gone past the bus stop. We’re actually in Ibadan”.

Ologunagba explained that 44-member PDP national convention zoning committee, headed by the Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Duoye Diri that was inaugurated last week and other committees set up for the convention are already working.

Continuing, the National Publicity Secretary said, “So, I am aware that several committees within that body have been meeting, and I can report that immediately after the inauguration, they had their first inaugural meeting, and I’m aware that several other meetings have taken place, and it is preparing to enter the national convention, holding at Ibadan on the 15th and 16th of November, 2025”.

Commenting on the last Saturday bye elections in 12 states in the country, Ologunagba said, “What happened in those bye-election, that they call election, it will not happen in 2007. Why? The reason is that Nigerian people are wiser. They are hurting.

“What will be on the ballot in 2007 will be the hunger, will be the uncertainty, will be the insecurity that no money can purchase”.