Nigeria’s ruling Peoples Democratic Party that touts itself as Africa’s biggest party split down the middle today after eight governors and former vice-president, Atiku Abubakar, walked out of the party’s convention ground in Abuja. Hours later, the splinter-group held a mini convention at the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre and announced officers for its version of PDP, with a former chairman, Abubakar Baraje, from Kwara state emerging the new chairman. Curiously, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former governor of Osun State, who was removed by the President Goodluck Jonathan faction as secretary and who has had a long-running legal battle with the Jonathan faction, is the new secretary of the new faction of PDP. The election of the new officers was at the parallel convention held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua center in Abuja. Also elected today as Deputy Chairman was Dr. Sam Jaja, while Binta Kaoje was elected as woman leader. The mini convention began shortly after the walkout delegates abandoned the party’s special convention, which was being held at the Eagle Square with President Goodluck Jonathan in attendance. At the other PDP convention, President Goodluck Jonathan promised that the party will continue to provide good governance for Nigeria, adding that the party is unshakeable by any opposition party.
Posted on: Sun, 01 Sep 2013 05:13:45 +0000
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