PDP Sets Up Screening Committee for Ondo State Guber Election

Labour Party changes venue of national convention

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has set up the Ondo State Screening Committee for the purpose of screening all the governorship aspirants of the party for the upcoming governorship primary election in Ondo State.

This is just as  the Labour Party (LP) has again changed the venue of its national convention to Nnewi, Anambra State.

According to a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Debo Ologunagba, the screening exercise is scheduled to take place on March 27, 2024 at the PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja, by 10 a.m.

The members of the committee are former Governor of Ebonyi State, Dr. Sam Egwu. Other members of the screening committee are Senator Isa Shuaibu Lau, Chief Emmanuel Ogidi, Mrs. Olivia  Dazyman,  Tanko, Beji, and Mrs. Gladys Ashemuke .

The Secretary of the committee is Chief Rahman Owokoniran while Caroline Akinsete is the administrative secretary. Ologunagba said all governorship aspirants, critical stakeholders, leaders and members of the party in Ondo State are to take note and be guided accordingly.

Meanwhile, LP has  changed the venue of its national convention to Nnewi, Anambra State.

In a letter addressed to the chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by the National Chairman of the LP, Julius Abure, and National Secretary of the party, Umar Ibrahim, LP announced a new venue.

This is the second time the party has changed the venue of the convention slated for March 27.

The party had earlier scheduled the national convention for March 29 in Benin-city, the Edo State capital, but shifted the date and venue to March 27 in Umuahia, the Abia State capital.

The new venue notice to INEC reads: “We write to kindly refer you to our letter on the above subject matter in which our national convention rescheduled for March 27, 2024, at the International Conference Centre in Umuahia, Abia State.

“We are, however, constrained to change the venue as a result of non-availability of the proposed venue on the scheduled date.

“We hereby inform you of the new venue for the convention as follows: ‘Venue: Grand Seasons Hotel Nnewi, Anambra State for March 27, 2024, by 10 am prompt.

“We kindly request you to be present and monitor the convention. Kindly accept the assurances of our esteem high regards as always.”

The Deputy National Chairman of the party, Ayo Olorunfemi, who confirmed the letter, said the change in venue was one of the issues discussed at the recent National Executive Committee meeting in Asaba, Delta State, where the party ratified the programme for the convention.

He said the NEC and state chairmen of the party endorsed the programme for the convention.

Olorunfemi said with that, the party was going ahead with the convention despite oppositions from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the House of Representatives caucus of the party and some supporters of the presidential candidate of the party, Peter Obi.

He said: “We have changed the venue because of security reasons. We need a place that is accessible and secure. Nnewi is a stone thrown from Onitsha and it is secure. We don’t want people who will be travelling from all over the country to pass through those dangerous zones.

“We have decided on this convention and we are going ahead with it. All the state chairmen and secretaries have taken a position.”

Also, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, confirmed to THISDAY of the new venue from Umuahia to Nnewi in Anambra State.