Ahead of the August 28 national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Conference of PDP Professionals has urged the leadership of the party to ensure the exercise is transparent and credible.
A new set of national officers to run the day-to-day affairs of the party is expected to be elected at the convention.
The group, in a statement on Sunday, also called on delegates and party members to start mobilising for the exercise, which is billed to be held in Kano.
The statement, signed by the group’s national coordinator, Obinna Nwachukwu, expressed the optimism that the emergence of a new set of national officers would help the PDP overcome its current leadership crisis.
It commended the PDP’s National Executive Committee (NEC) for its decision to hold the convention as scheduled during its last meeting held on May 27.
The group noted that party members and indeed Nigerians believe that a successful convention would reposition the PDP and prepare it ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The NEC had appointed Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State as the chairman of the National Convention Organising Committee, while the Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, chairs the Zoning Committee.
“We expect party leaders to note that Nigerians expect the PDP to prioritise merit, experience, institutional memory and commitment above sectional and other divisive considerations in electing national officers at the coming convention.
“Our position is predicated on the fact that the new leadership to be elected at the convention will be vested with the highly demanding task of leading the party to victory in the 2027 general elections, a task that requires experience and requisite skills to deliver.
“The conference therefore urges party stakeholders and delegates to set aside sentiments and focus on the bigger picture and collective interest of the party and the nation ahead of the convention.
“We are optimistic that the conversation will lay the pathway for the party to redefine itself in the quest to recover power and restore a purposeful, people-based government in our country,” the group said.
