From Taiwo Amodu, Abuja
THE ranks of those kicking against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention swelled yesterday as some chieftains of the party from the North also called for its postponement.
Led by former Information Minister and member of the party Board of Trustees, Professor Jerry Gana, the group decried what it called the impunity being perpetrated by the Senator Ali Modu Sheriff-led National Working Committee (NWC) which claimed to be working towards inspiring amity in the already divided party.
Another forum, the PDP Concerned group led by former Niger State governor, Babangida Aliyu had on Wednesday also called for postponement while also threatening to conduct a parrallel national convention if its call was not heeded.
The group led by Professor Gana further demanded that the outgoing NWC should vacate their position ahead of the May 21 date fixed for the convention.
The North Elders Forum faulted the proposed amendment of the party constitution, as it noted that it was in violation of the document.
Further investigation by Daily Sun revealed that the proposed amendment would be tabled before members of the party National Executive Committee (NEC) at its meeting slated for next Wednesday.
Members of the Professor Gana group at its meeting held at NICON Luxury, Abuja, were former deputy president of the Senate, Ibrahim Mantu, former Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Waziri Maina and former gubernatorial aspirant in Adamawa State, Ahmed Gulak among others.
Meanwhile, members of the PDP Appeal Committee for Adamawa State yesterday stormed the national secretariat of the party to lodge complaint against the Joel Madaki-led state executive.
Addressing newsmen, Moses Ibiyemi alleged that the committees sent to Adamawa to conduct the ward congress were not allowed to do its job as some of them were kidnapped.
Ibiyemi declared that no ward congress was conducted in Adamawa and called on the national leadership of the party to dissolve the Madaki-led state executive and put in place a caretaker committee.
“The behavior and attitude of the state chairman, Joel Madaki; the Secretary; A. T. Shehu; Organizing Secretary, Abdullahi Preambi and the woman leader, Captain Alline were to say the least barbaric.
“We were kidnapped, harassed and beaten by thugs. Because all the members of the state Exco wanted to retain their seats, they forced our secretary to sign documents already prepared by the secretary.
“A troop of mobile policemen organised by some other stakeholder had to rescue us from our hotel besieged by the thugs to DSS headquarters.
“When we were evacuated from the DSS headquarters to another hotel, the Appeal Committee members managed to escape with their lives back to Abuja while members of Congress Committee were under siege and could not escape.
“There was no election at Adamawa. The result prepared and forced on the Committee by the state Cchairman and exco was false and not true election.
“In view of the above, we strongly recommend the immediate dissolution on Joel Madaki-led Exco in Adamawa State and caretaker committee should be set up to midwife the congress that will be free, fair and credible,” the group.