PDP Convention: Anxiety as party awaits Port Harcourt Appeal Court ruling

*Successful convention will end defection to APC – Fintiri

*Members optimistic

Tunde Opalana, Abuja

Less than 48 hours to the National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), leaders as well as members are confused as to whether the convention will hold or not.

The anxiety on the state of affairs of the party was thickened by a decision of the Court of Appeal sitting in Port- Harcourt to rule today on an appeal by the suspended National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus.

The court yesterday dashed hopes of millions of PDP members who anxiously awaited its verdict on suit by Secondus to reverse his suspension and to halt the PDP national convention. The court continues with the case today.

The delayed verdict no doubt unsettled organs of the party as certain activities were put on hold pending the outcome of the suit instituted by Secondus.

Daily Times gathered that the PDP Governors Forum meeting slated for 1.00pm yesterday was hurriedly shifted to await the court verdict.

Also, the outcome of the appellate to the screening exercise for aspirants jostling for National Working Committee (NWC) positions was put on hold while waiting for the verdict.

The Ike Ekweremadu – led Screening Appeal Committee had on Tuesday told journalists that his committee received petitions against five of the aspirants but promised to invite the alleged and make its findings known On Wednesday.

However, the outcome of the exercise is still being awaited.

Seemed unperturbed by the Port Harcourt legal process, Chairman National Convention Organising Committee and governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri said the convention goes on as planned.

Fintiri was optimistic that successful conduct of the National Convention will no doubt herald the disintegration of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).

He as well said that a good outcome at the convention will put an end to erratic defection of party members to the APC.

The situation notwithstanding, members of the party were optimistic that the convention will hold this weekend in Abuja.

Speaking anonymously, a former NWC member said “nothing threatening will come out of the case in Port Harcourt because Prince Secondus’ case will be thrown out and we will hold our convention”.

Another member who is an aide to a state governor proudly told Daily Times that nobody can stop the convention from holding.

He said “no one stops a moving train. Our national convention is a moving train which must hold

“Do you think four of our governors will leave Abuja at this crucial moment to meet with former governor Mimiko in Ondo State?. They are confident that the former chairman has no genuine case against the party”.

As at the time of filing this report, the slated meeting of the PDP Governors Forum is yet to commence.