Sight And Sound of the Convention.

(From Vanguard (Nigeria) - AAGM)

WITH the arrival of Matthew Okikiolakan Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo, the apparent man of the moment, in an 18-car convoy at 12:25 p.m. yesterday, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, kicked off its 7th national convention. It was one peculiar convention but one which the leadership of the party had hailed as a very successful one. Peculiar because all officers of the party National Executive Committee, NEC, as instituted some months ago were all returned. Peaceful because the doomsdayers who had predicted crisis for the party as a result of the convention were wrong as those "who owned the party" did their convention the way they wanted to do it. Voting was by Voice Vote. The Convention did not experience any particular boycott but the absence of Orji Uzor Kalu, governor of Abia State was said to have been expected. It was a convention which saw the ratification of the expulsion of Chris Ngige, governor of Anambra State and the re-admittance of Chris Uba, whom the party said had shown remorse, unlike the governor, said to have engaged in "increased belligerence and vituperation".

It was also a convention which saw the party, notifying the Senate President "of the expulsion" of Senator Bode Olowoporoku, with a directive that all privileges due him should be withdrawn. It said Olowoporoku"s case was treated "in accordance with Article 16c(1&5) of the party constitution". The party was also able at this convention, ratify the amendments to its constitution in the areas of …