By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
Governor of Adamawa State and Chairman of PDP National Convention Committee, Ahmadu Fintri has stated that the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) targets to win at least the Presidency and 28 states in the 2023 general elections.
The governor made the disclosure in his acceptance speech after the innaguration of the PDP National Convention Committee at the NEC Hall, PDP National Secretariat, Abuja on Friday after the innaguration of the National Convention committee comprising of 179 members with Gov. Diri Duoye of Bayelsa as the Vice Chairman as well Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State as the Secretary.
Fintri in his speech, expressed optimism that the party has a long history of organising very successful convention which is the first step towards a successful election.
“This is not the first time we are having such convention, neither is it the first time that I have conducted a conversion on behalf of this party. I have steered and conducted one of the toughest conventions in Kogi, and I’ve come out smooth.
“The experience of my Deputy, my Secretary, and given the support of all the governors, and everybody here, including those that are out there, that are in support of this party, I know by the grace of God, that we’re going to have one of the best convention and all of the best national working committee.
“That is least to say that the present leadership we have in the party have not done well. They have done very well and extra well. They’ve taken this party from 10 governors to about 17 governors before we were robbed at a time. So I believe, by 2023, we’re going to where we were in 2015, with about 28 governors and the President”.
The governor called on the zoning committee to wrap up all arrangements in one week so that the convention committee can conclude it’s mandate in record time.
“To make our job start in earnest, I call on the zoning committee to walk and conclude their assignment latest by end of next week, so that we can start our job. It is not an order, but that is what we least expect from you, end of Friday next week.
“Round up your job so that those who are interested to contest and occupy these very important positions in our party will start criss-crossing Nigeria”.
Earlier in his remarks, Acting Chairman of the party, Elder Yemi Akinwonmi said that the committee members were carefully selected to accommodate all the organs in the party.
“I make bold to say, on behalf of National Working Committee, that all the critical organs of the party, are represented in the main committee, so also the geographical zones and the states of the federation are equally well represented.
“By the composition of this committee, Nigerians and indeed, all PDP stakeholders expect nothing less than a successful national elective convention, which were noted for” he said.
Also in his goodwill message, House Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu, said that the ruling party has bastardized the economy and exposed the country to intractable insecurity and called on members of the ruling party to close ranks and work to take over governance come 2023.
“The APC led government has compromised our national security and is now superintending over escalated bloodletting, terrorism and unrelenting acts of banditry to the extent that mass killing is becoming a new normal in our country.
“It is indeed pathetic that under the APC led government, all the productive sectors of our country have been crippled. Infrastructural decay and skyrocketed costs of food and essential commodities have made life unbearable in Nigeria. The only hope is returning the PDP to power in 2023 and we must not fail our compatriots.
“It is against this backdrop that we must go into the National Convention with every sense of unity, duty and patriotism to elect competent, dedicated and experienced leaders to lead our party and Nigerians to victory in the 2023 general elections.
“In this regard, our party members and Nigerians in general expect the highest display of sportsmanship by aspirants to various positions so that we can have a smooth, successful, credible and people-oriented national convention. In all, the interest and wellbeing of Nigerians must be paramount”.
The convention is slated to hold on the 31st of October, 2023 at the Eagle Square, Abuja.
Present at the event were the BoT Chairman, Sen. Walid Jibrin, Tom Ikimi, Prof. Jerry Gana, members of the NWC and many other stake holders.
