Delegates begin voting at PDP National Convention as Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan absent

Delegates have commenced voting at the ongoing National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Newsflash Nigeria gathered that the voting exercise started around 5pm with Abia State delegates the first to vote.

Other states will also follow in alphabetical order with a total of 3,600 delegates expected to cast their vote at the convention.

Earlier, Newsflash Nigeria had reported that the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has commenced its much-awaited National Convention in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

The event kicked off around 1.05pm at the Eagle Square in Abuja with the recitation of the National Anthem which was quickly followed by the Christian and Muslim prayers.

Newsflash Nigeria recalls the PDP had to overcome a legal challenge posed by the suspended National Chairman, Uche Secondus who had approached the court to prevent the party from holding its planned convention.

In his opening remarks the Chairman of the National Convention Organizing Committee of the PDP, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State said the opposition party is working hard to take over leadership from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to correct the wrongs of many years and the pains inflicted on Nigerians by the ruling party.

He said since APC took over in 2015, many things have gone worse including the economy and security.

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Fintiri submitted that the PDP is on a rescue mission and is open to receiving those that had left the fold back into the party.

Meanwhile, former President Goodluck Jonathan is currently on his way to Nairobi, Kenya to attend a high-level African union retreat on Peace, Security and Stability in Africa.

Jonathan, who is the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Special Envoy for Mali would be in Kenya for 3 days.

The retreat is themed: “Improved Co-ordination and Harmonization for Impactful Mediation”.

The Special Adviser to Jonathan on Media, Ikechukwu Eze, had said on Friday, October 29, in a statement in Abuja, that the ex-president, said that the retreat would bring together the Chairperson of the Commission, senior Kenyan government officials, as well as representatives of AU member states, regional organisations, international agencies and AU organs.

The statement read: “It will provide participants an opportunity to reflect, take stock and review ongoing mediation efforts in the evolving conflict context on the continent, towards better coherence for more sustained impact.

“The retreat will, in addition, offer insights and exchanges by mediation practitioners on emerging policy and practice as it relates to inclusivity, particularly of women, youth and civil society”, Eze said.

He noted that the background information provided by the AU described the annual high-level retreat as one of the key continental body’s initiatives for improving impact in addressing conflict situations in Africa.

Meanwhile, there are rumours that Goodluck is planning to join the ruling APC and become its presidential candidate in the 2023 elections.

The Ex-President has repeatedly denied the allegations, saying he was focused on unity, peace and development of Nigeria.

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