SDP begins ward, council, state congresses in Ekiti

Al-Makura heads panel to pick APC candidate
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) will today begin its congress ahead of the governorship primaries in Ekiti State.

The state Chairman of the party, Dr. Dele Ekunola disclosed this yesterday.

He said the elective congresses, which would hold in the 177 wards and 16 local government areas, would end on May 7, 2018.

Ekunola, in a statement in Ado Ekiti, said the party has adopted option A4 to make the process transparent.

He lauded the option, which he said the SDP adopted in 1993 to accomplish the freest and fairest election in the country.

The SDP chairman said the party had notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of its plan.

This, he, said was in line with the electoral Act 2010, as amended, which gives the electoral body the mandate to witness such congresses.

He explained that the current executives of the party were not elected into office.

He explained: “Our party has set aside Thursday May 3 for the ward congress, Friday May 4 for the local government congress, while the state congress would hold on May 7.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has appointed Nasarawa State Governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura to head a five- member panel to pick the party’s governorship candidate in Ekiti.

The party also inaugurated a three-member primaries appeal committee headed by Amb. Fati Balla.

The primaries elections are scheduled for Saturday, May 5.

Other members of the committee are Magaji Aliyu (Secretary), Duke Oshodin, Robert Okwuego, and Tunde Balogun.

The appeal committee includes Bala Jibrin (Secretary) and Mrs. Lilian Obenwa.

The APC National organising Secretary, Osita Izunaso, who inaugurated the panels, said the party was poised to winning the governorship election.