President Goodluck Jonathan has said the Peoples Democratic Party
organised its Special National Convention to show its commitment to
the rule of law and the principle of internal democracy.
Jonathan said this on Saturday in Abuja at the Eagle Square, venue of
the convention, which was organised to elect officers into the party’s
National Working Committee.
The convention was necessitated by the July 25 ruling of an Abuja High
Court, which declared the March 2012 National Convention of the party
a nullity.
The court had said it based its ruling on an earlier report by the
Independent National Electoral Commission, which faulted the election
of eight out of the 12 members of the party’s NWC.
President Jonathan said the party decided to obey the court’s ruling
and do what INEC stipulated, instead of resorting to a legal tussle.
“We are here today to affirm our commitment to the rule of law and the
principle of internal democracy,” he said.
The President said the PDP was the only political party in the country
that was “truly owned by the people”.
Jonathan added: “PDP is the only party that does not align itself to
religious and ethnic sentiments.
“It focuses attention on ensuring true development across the country.”
Jonathan said the PDP-led Federal Government under his leadership was
working round the clock to revamp the country`s economy and ensure
development in all sectors.
He said: “Under the present administration in the country, the
telecommunications sector has become one of the biggest in the world.
“The banking sector, which used to be consumed by systemic crisis, has
been stabilised, because of the banking sector reform by my
administration.”
Jonathan, however, said there was the need for party members to remain
focussed and disciplined always in order for PDP to remain strong and
successful.
He expressed optimism that the party would continue to be bigger and
stronger in spite of its internal crisis, saying “PDP is the party for
all Nigerians”.
President Jonathan had on arrival at the convention venue gone round
on foot to acknowledge cheers from party members and supporters.
This is a departure from the situation at previous conventions when he
had gone round to acknowledge cheers in a motorcade.
Also speaking at the convention, Vice-President Namadi Sambo said
Nigerians’ confidence in the PDP had been boosted by the party’s
development strides across the country recently.
Sambo restated the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring a
harmonious working relationship between the three tiers of government.
The vice-president called on aspirants at the convention to play the
game by the rule, adding: “In this family, there shall be no victor
and no vanquished.”
Close to 3,500 delegates from the 36 states of the federation and the
FCT cast their votes for aspirants of their choice at the convention.
NAN also reports that 146 voting points were provided at the
convention venue to fasten the voting process.
By the arrangement, 120 delegates were to vote at the same time.
Meanwhile, traders took the opportunity of the large turnout of party
members and the delegates to do brisk business, selling deferent kinds
of items at the convention venue.
A medical unit was also on ground to attend to persons who may need
medical attention.
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