A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aligned with former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, on Saturday held its Kano State congress, where a new set of party executives emerged through a consensus arrangement.
The exercise took place just days after a Federal High Court ruling nullified the Tanimu Turaki-led executives at the national level. The congress was conducted in the presence of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
At the end of the exercise, Dr. Bello Gambo Bichi was returned as state chairman, while Ali Mati Shantake emerged as financial secretary. Dr. Hafsat Abubakar was elected women leader, Musa Baba Dala became publicity secretary, and Engr. Auwal Ya’u took the position of youth leader.
Also elected into key offices were Barrister Abdullahi Umar as legal adviser and Lawan Shehu Yakasai as treasurer, among other members of the state executive.
However, Chairman of the electoral committee sent to supervise the exercise, Aminu Abdullahi Taura, said the congress followed the dissolution of previous ward and local government structures across the state.
He described the exercise as part of efforts to reposition the party, saying the PDP remained attractive to many Nigerians who, according to him, were disappointed with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and still adored, remembered the PDP good all days.
Taura said a total of 29 state executive members were endorsed unanimously by party stakeholders and the caretaker committee, noting that the congress reflected growing internal understanding within the party. He maintained that despite some disagreements, the PDP remained one family.
Speaking at the event, the PDP National Youth Leader, Ibrahim Bala Aboki, said the party had entered a new phase of inclusion, he denounced the claims that the party was divided, insisting that, PDP remained united and strong adding that congresses had been successfully conducted across the 448 wards and 44 local government areas of Kano State.
Similarly, during the event, the Congress recognized the party’s 2023 governorship candidate in the state, Alhaji Muhammadu Sani Abacha, as the leader of the party in Kano.
