The Ahmed Makarfi-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has vowed to go ahead with its planned convention scheduled for August 17, despite a court order to the contrary.
Two conflicting court judgments were given on Monday for and against the convention.
A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt had earlier ruled that the convention should go ahead, and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to monitor the event, while the Nigerian Police Force is to provide security at the venue of the convention.
But Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High court in Abuja ruled that the convention be put on hold pending the determination of the case before his court.
Justice Abang awarded the sum of N50,000 against Ben Obi, for instituting the Port-Harcourt law suit when he knew that the same case was pending before a court of coordinate jurisdiction.
He said the move by Obi was a ploy to make a mockery of the country’s justice system.
However, a statement by Onyema Ugochukwu, chairman of the Publicity Sub-Committee of the National Convention Committee, said that the Convention will go ahead as planned on Wednesday, at the Sharks Stadium, Port-Harcourt, capital of Rivers State.
Ugochukwu said “The Chairman of the Convention Planning Committee and the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, welcomed all Party leaders, delegates, members, supporters, invited guests and observers to the National Convention holding on Wednesday, August 17 by10:00am local.”
The committee spokesman disclosed that “Ninety aspirants are contesting for various positions in the forthcoming national convention … out of which five are for the position of National Chairman, four are for first Deputy National Chairman (South) and five are for second Deputy National Chairman (North).”
“For the office of National Secretary, they are five contestants, Deputy National Secretary are two and National Publicity Secretary are six aspirants.”
According to the statement, the screening of aspirants held at the State Party Secretariat, in Port Harcourt while the screening Appeal will begin on Tuesday.
The statement further added that “In compliance with the PDP’s Constitution from inception, all regional interests are usually accommodated in recognition of the Country’s diversity, and as such, the PDP has zoned the 2019 Presidency to the North and the National Chairmanship to the South.
“Other positions have also been zoned between North and South for equitable representation in the Party, respectively,” it said.
The PDP further said it would continue to play its role after the Convention as the main opposition Party by providing alternative governance and remaining a solution-driven political Party to help the Government in power, and reposition itself to regain power in 2019.