The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will field candidates in the 2027 general election, its National Leader Minister of the federal Capital territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike said last night.
He also said the party would reclaim mandates allegedly taken to other parties by defectors across the states of the federation.
Wike, who spoke at the party’s national convention in Abuja, said the monitoring of the convention by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had further validated the leadership claim of the National Caretaker Committee led by Alhaji Abdulrahman Mohammed and paved the way for the party to participate in the elections.
“By the grace of God, PDP will be on the ballot in 2027,” he said, drawing applause from delegates from the 36 states and the FCT.
The National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, who presented a report on the party’s activities over the past four years, said he remained the custodian of the party’s core property: its original certificate.
“The original certificate is with me,” he said.
The caretaker chairman, Mohammed, was elected National Chairman by consensus following a motion moved by House of Representatives Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda.
The motion was seconded by a former House of Representatives member from Kano, Usaman Adamu.
Other officers elected included Aaron Chukwuemeka (Deputy National Chairman, South), Yusuf Akwekwe (Deputy National Chairman, North), Anyanwu (National Secretary), Kamorudeen Ajibade (National Legal Adviser), Olabisi Kolawole (Deputy National Secretary) and Diran Odeyemi (National Treasurer).
The convention, held at the National Stadium, Abuja, was attended by former governors Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia and Chairman of the Convention Planning Committee), Bukola Saraki (Kwara), Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna) and Hassan Dankwambo (Gombe).
Others present included Senate Minority Leader Senator Abba Moro, Senator Zainab Kure, Senator Abdul Ningi, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Chibudom Nwuche, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) and former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Michael Aondoakaa (SAN), whose letter of resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in his ward Benue State was made available yesterday.
Wike berated defectors from the party, including Peter Obi, saying they lacked principles.
He, however, praised party members at the grassroots for standing firm during the crisis.
The minister said: “It is gladdening to note that throughout this period of avoidable crisis, our members at the grassroots across all the wards in this country remained largely steadfast in their dedication to the party.
“They insisted that they would never leave the party that had, over the years, contributed significantly to their welfare and upliftment, as well as to the development of society.
