More than 4,500 delegates are expected to participate at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention slated for? Saturday, March 24 in Abuja.
The delegates are to decide the fate of the more than 78 aspirants vying for the membership of the National Working Committee.
Eleven of the 78 aspirants are contesting for the party`s chairmanship position.
The chairmanship aspirants include; Dr. Musa Babayo, former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Adamu Bello, Alhaji Ibrahim Bunu former FCT, Minister and Dr. Shettima Mustapha former Minister of Interior.
Others are, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur former governor of old Gongola, former Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Sen. Abba Aji and Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali National Publicity Secretary of the party.
Amb. Idris Waziri, former Minister of Commerce, Alhaji Adamu Mauzu, former governor of Bauchi State, Alhaji Gambo Lawan former National Chairman, Grass roots Democratic Movement and Alhaji Ibrahim Shehu Birma are also contesting for the position.
Prof. Taoheed Adedoja former Sports Minister,? Chief Olusola Oke, the party`s present National Legal Adviser, Chief Ebenezer Babatope,former Minister of Transport, Prof. Tunde Adeniran former Education Minister and Oladimeji Fabiyi are among contestants for the position of National Secretary.
The National Executive Committee of the party had at its 57th meeting adopted the zoning policy for the election of officials at all levels.
By that policy, the national chairmanship position of the party was zoned to the North East while those of deputy national chairmanship and the national financial secretary were zoned to the South South.
TheNorth East caucus of the PDP had meanwhile endorsed the acting National Secretary of the party Musa Babayo from Bauchi State for the position of national chairman of the party.
The endorsement of Babayo, who scored 14 votes to beat Bamanga Tukur, the alleged preferred candidate of the party who scored two votes, was announced last Wednesday at the North? East zonal congress of the party in Bauchi.
Sen. Girgir Lawan from Borno also emerged the new national vice chairman of the party at the congress, which was attended by PDP governors of Bauchi, Taraba, Adamawa and Gombe states.
Sen. Ibrahim Mantu and Chairman Bamanga Tukur campaign organisation had meanwhile described as “null and void,” the decision of the North-Earth caucus of the party.
Mantu at a news briefing in Abuja, said that the issue of who would decide the national chairmanship candidate of the PDP rested on delegates to the national convention.
According to him, only 22 people out of the expected 800 delegates from the zones allegedly decided the issue.
He added that the decision had no effect on the ambition of Bamanga Tukur to become the PDP`s next national chairman.
He added that the aspirant was ready to offer his experience to the PDP members.
The party had also zoned the position of? National Publicity Secretary to the South East, but governors and leaders of the party met and re-zoned the positions, with Anambra State getting the position of National Publicity Secretary.
By the zoning policy,? Imo will get the position of? Women Leader while Ebonyi is to produce the Deputy National Secretary.
The FCT Police Command had meanwhile said that it has assembled a combination of 10,000 police personnel besides other security agencies to ensure a hitch free convention.
According to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Michael Zuokumor of the FCT Command, the team is made up of Mobile Police Force and Police and Anti Terrorist Squad.
He added that the team also included Conventional? Police Departments, Police Bomb Disposal Squad, Force Intelligent Bureau, Police Dog Section and Police Medical and emergency ambulances.
The team he added would be deployed within and round the Eagle Square, venue of the convention and other venues of accreditation of delegates.
Meanwhile, as delegations arrive Abuja for the convention which is the party`s 9th convention, high definition camera and other security gadgets had been deployed in strategies positions within the city to ensure safety of? participants.
?The police had warned members of the public who are not accredited delegates or officials of the party to stay away from the convention venue.
?It stressed that any breach of peace would not be tolerated. (NAN)