National Convention: PDP Generates ₦63m From Sale Of Nomination Forms

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has generated the sum of ₦63 million from the sale of nomination forms to party members seeking various offices.

Ezenwoko’s Blog reports that the nation’s main opposition party commenced screening of individuals vying for offices in the 2021 National Convention.

The party screening exercise chaired by Bello Adoke kick-started on Wednesday morning at the Legacy House, Maitama, Abuja.

This news platform understands that no fewer than 33 individuals have shown interest for various positions ahead of the party October 30/31 national elective convention scheduled to hold at the Eagles Square, Abuja.

PDP had earlier fixed ₦5 million for the national chairmanship forms while those vying for the deputy national chairman and national secretary were expected to pay the sum of ₦3 million each.

For other substantive offices, the party pegged the nomination forms for ₦2 million each while nomination forms into national deputy offices were slated for ₦750, 000 each.

Amongst the 33 aspirants, Iyorchia Ayu (Benue), Ahmed Mohammed (Gombe), Umaru Bature (Sokoto), Daniel Woyengikuro (Bayelsa) and Kamaldeen Ajibade (Kwara) are consensus candidates for the positions of national chairman, national treasurer, national financial secretary and national legal adviser respectively.

For the position of deputy national chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja, Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Wale Oladipo all picked and submitted forms to test their competence at the convention.

While Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State is said to be sponsoring Arapaja, Oladipo, a former PDP national secretary, is backing on the support of Senator Ademola Adeleke and a good number of PDP stakeholders from Osun state to coast home to victory.

Oyinlola on the other hand, is heading to the convention on his own, having seen earlier support from Makinde swayed in the direction of Arapaja. Oyinlola and Oladipo both hail from Osun state while Arapaja is from Oyo.

For the position of deputy national chairman (North), former Minister of Women Affairs and a one-time PDP national woman leader, Hajia Maryam Ina Ciroma is up against Ambassador Umar Damagum. Hajia Ciroma hails from Borno state while Damagum is from neighboring Yobe state.

Similarly, ex- national vice chairman (South-West) of the PDP, Eddy Olafeso and a former House of Representatives member, Debo Olagunagba are intent on succeeding Kola Ologbondiyan as the party’s national publicity secretary.

Anambra state which had the national auditor’s office micro-zoned to it failed to settle for a consensus candidate as the trio of Okechukwu Daniel, Ikechukwu Nwosu and Mrs. Chibuogwu Benson-Oraelosi will test their popularity among party delegates at the convention ground.

In Cross River state, Academic Professor Stella Effa-Attoe is vying for the position of national woman leader against Hon. Divine Arong.