The Board of trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party emerged from its meeting Monday night, which lasted till the wee hours of Tuesday, announcing the former Minister of Works, Chief Tony Anenih, as its new chairman.
Anenih emerged unopposed as a consensus candidate in line with the report of the Prof. Jerry Gana’s committee on streamlining the membership of the BOT.
The meeting, held at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja, commenced at 8.45pm and ended in the early hours of Tuesday.
Present were President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, former Vice President Alex Ekwueme, Senate President David Mark, Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and former PDP chairmen – Senator Banabas Gemade, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, Okweselise Nwodo and Prince Vincent Ogbulafor.
The Secretary of the BOT, Senator Wali Jibril, announced the choose of Anenih to newsmen.
Wali said: “BOT met today and approved the report of Prof. Jerry Gana on streamlining the membership of the BOT.
“Our new chairman of the BOT by the grace of God is Chief Tony Anenih.”
Addressing newsmen, Anenih had this to say: “I was elected today by consensus as the chairman of the BOT.
“I know I can make meaningful contributions to the progress of the party.
“As you know, the BOT is the conscience of the party.
“It’s a body of men and women who have seen it all and I am happy to be the chairman of that board.”
In attendance at the meeting were former Presidents of the Senate, Adolphus Wabara and Ken Nnamani; Second Republic Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Richard Akinjide; and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.
Others were Governors Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State and Jonah Jang of Plateau State; Prof. Jubril Aminu; Anenih’s wife, Josephine Anenih; Dr. Bode Olajumoke; Chief Don Etiebet; Gana; PDP Woman Leader, Dr. Kema Chikwe; and Dr. Hassan Adamu.
Also at the meeting were Dr. Dalhatu Tafida, Alabo Graham Douglas, Chief Jim Nwobodo, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja, Alhaji Bunu Sherif, Chief Olabode George, Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu, Dr. Mohammed Bello Haliru, retired Major General David Jemibewon, Shuaibu Oyedokun, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, Adamu Muazu and Danjuma Goje.
Our earlier story
Controversial former Minister of Works, Chief Tony Anenih, has emerged as the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Anenih was named the chairman of the BOT in the wee hours of Tuesday.
This was after a meeting, which commenced on Monday evening at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, ended.
The bid to name a successor for former President Olusegun Obasanjo as the chairman of the BOT had witnessed a lot of drama and postponement of meetings for the purpose.
Anenih, as earlier reported, had been tipped to emerge as the chairman because he was the choice of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
As at the time of filing this report, the leadership of the PDP was still briefing newsmen on the development.
