By Okey Ndiribe, Ben Agande & Gbenga Oke

ABUJA—After several postponements, the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, Sunday held its National convention amidst intrigues and manoeuvres among chieftains of the party. The convention was shifted by one day due to President Goodluck Jonathan’s use of the Eagle square for the declaration of his intention to run for the exalted office in 2011- kicked off by midnight of Saturday with accreditation of delegates of the party.

The convention which was held to elect new officers for the party had two contestants for the position of chairman after seven others stepped down following a failed effort to select a consensus candidate. All other officers of the party were elected through the consensus arrangement.

The two contestants for the party’s top position were Chief Harry Akande and Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu. It was learnt that efforts by the party’s national caucus to reach agreement on a consensus candidate failed after Chief Akande rejected the agreement and insisted that proper election should be held to determine the next chairman of the party.

Delegates of the party who came from different parts of the country conducted themselves in a peaceful manner indicating that the crisis which had rocked the party for a long time was under control.

Leaders of the party from different parts of the country urged Nigerians to vote for the party’s candidates during the forth-coming general elections in order to free the country from poverty, disease and hunger.

Among dignitaries of the party who attended the convention were Governor Ali-Modu Sherif of Borno State, Governor Ibrahim Shekarau of Kano State, Governor Alhaji Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe State, former governor of Yobe State, Senator Bukar Ibrahim, former governor of Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu, former governor of Edo State, John Odigie Oyegun, former deputy governor of Jigawa State, Ibrahim Hassan, Senator Ahmed Yerima, Senator Kabiru Gaya, Mr. Ali Ndume, Alhaji Bashir Tofa, Chief Harry Akande, Chief George Moghalu and Chief Kola Ogunade. The election had not been concluded at the time of filing in this report … promises to free Nigerians from poverty