PDP chairmanship: Why consensus is preferred, by Bala Mohammed

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) declared yesterday that the October 30 date for the election of its national officers at a national convention remained sacrosanct. 

To that effect, the sale of forms for all aspirants for the various positions will begin on Monday, just as screening of aspirants will begin and end next week.

Chairman of the convention planning committee and Adamawa State governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, who spoke to journalists at the end of the Committee’s meeting, yesterday, also disclosed that the convention’s venue had been properly secured at the Eagle Square in Abuja. He said about 6000 delegates were expected to participate at the convention. 

On the option of consensus, Fintiri said although it is a good option, it is too early to conclude that consensus will be adopted. He explained that the committee would like to give every member the opportunity to participate in the process and be part of the option that would eventually be approved. 

But Governor Bala Mohammed, a member of the convention planning committee, explained why consensus would be preferred. 

He said: “Consensus is normally a process of democratic consultation, as democracy is about consensus. Certainly, the electoral process can be reduced by having a converging point on an individual and that would have reduced the disparaging issues within the party.”

He, however, said if consensus was not eventually agreed upon, PDP would certainly not subscribe to imposition.

On zoning, the Bauchi governor said: “We have resolved the issue of zoning. The PDP is a mature party. We have learnt from our mistakes, we will not play to the gallery the way our detractors or competitors want us to.

“We will always resolve our issues, so zoning is over… What we are looking forward to is the emergence of a chairman from the North, who will give us the leadership that we require to form quality government in 2023,” he said.

He explained that the essence of the meeting was for members to brainstorm and strategise to enable them to take better decisions with regard to the preparation and arrangement needed to deliver on the expectations of PDP’s teeming supporters.