𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐂, 𝐎𝐬𝐮𝐧, 𝐑𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐏𝐃𝐏 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

The contentious national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party opened on Saturday at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, with delegates arriving in droves bearing banners of their states and preferred candidates.

The Damagum-led faction kicked off the day with drums, dancing and jubilation around the stadium in the early hours.

Accreditation of delegates began at about 1:30 p.m., though the convention was not officially declared open until 3:09 p.m. when the Chief Host and Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, arrived with the PDP National Chairman, Illiya Damagun.

TruthVanta reports that dignitaries present at the convention include but not restricted to Acting National Chairman, Ilya Damagum, Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, Senator Abba Moro of Benue South, and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central.

Conspicuously absent were the Governors of Osun and Rivers States, Senator Ademola Adeleke and Siminalayi Fubara.

A banner tagged “PDP Governors” listed Plateau’s Caleb Mutfwang, Rivers’ Siminalayi Fubara, Bauchi’s Bala Mohammed, Taraba’s Agbu Kefas, Zamfara’s Dauda Lawal, and Oyo’s Seyi Makinde, raising questions over the omission of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke both on the banner and at the event.

Despite an Oyo court order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission to monitor the convention, INEC officials were not present at the venue as of the time of this report.

The convention holds under a fresh legal cloud following a counter-order from a Federal High Court in Abuja restraining INEC from recognizing any outcome of the exercise.

Security around Adamasingba and adjoining routes has been heavily tightened, with the Oyo State Police Command deploying increased patrols, surveillance teams and access-control measures to forestall disruptions.

Internal tension within the party remains high following recent allegations by Acting National Chairman Ilya Damagum that loyalists of a suspended national officer violently invaded the PDP national secretariat in Abuja in the buildup to the convention.

The Oyo State High Court earlier extended its order allowing the convention to proceed, restraining any interference with the timetable and directing full compliance with party rules.

As at press time, voting had not commenced.

Details later.....