*77 aspirants jostle for 17 national offices
Members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will, on Saturday, converge on the nation’s capital city, Abuja to correct a self-afflicted mistake, that is, conduct a Special National Convention where members of the National Working Committee, NWC, who resigned June 20 will be re-elected or replaced.

TO resolve the lingering crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-west, the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamangar Tukur, yesterday, met with members of the party in Lagos State.

With less than 24 hours to the South-West zonal congress of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, scheduled to hold in Ibadan, Oyo state capital tomorrow, the party, yesterday, failed to comply with the order of an Osun State High Court restraining it from filling the position of National Secretary of the party at its mini-convention.

After months of hustling, the contest to replace the two term governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi enters its final lap tomorrow with the governorship primaries of the main opposition party, PDP, while that of the ruling APGA will be on Monday. However, being Anambra State, the home of many political intrigues, tomorrow’s contest is expected to open political oddities that are bound to be exploited by Anambra’s professional politicians.

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan declared, yesterday, that the opposition political parties were already confused and scared of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, ahead of the 2015 elections.

An alleged plot to remove the remaining traces of Governor Rotimi Amaechi in Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, commenced yesterday with the evaluation of all party members from the state in public office by the Felix Obuah-led state executive of the party.

Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has faulted former Governor Gbenga Daniel on his claim of being loyal to President Goodluck Jonathan.

Prince Kenneth Emeakayi was few months ago adopted by stakeholders including national officers of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP as the chairman of the Anambra State chapter of the party. His emergence followed more than 10 years of intractable infighting that led to multiplication of factions within the party. Since his emergence, Prince Emeakayi has attempted to cobble the different factions within a united body. In this telephone interview he spoke on the party’s plans and prospects ahead of tomorrow’s governorship primaries. Excerpts:

Dr. Abduljhalil Tafawa Balewa, son of Nigeria’s first prime minister, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, has said that President Goodluck Jonathan would be returned to office in 2015 based on his good works, saying the sophistication of northern voters would shock many.

EBONYI State Police command, yesterday, confirmed the arrest of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, councillorship aspirant in the just concluded primaries of the party, Mr. Odah Mmaduabuchi, over alleged certificate forgery and impersonation.

AT least three persons sustained injuries at the collation center in Awka on Tuesday after the rerun of the ward congresses ordered by the PDP as supporters of some governorship aspirants fought over the list of delegates that emerged from the field. Meanwhile, it emerged that some aspirants were already pricing the delegates at the starting price of N20,000 per delegate.

SECRETARY of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State, Prince Yemi Afolayan, is amused whenever opposition parties boast that they can stop the PDP in Kwara. In this interview, the former chairman of Irepodun Local Council, speaks on the politics of the state, the forthcoming rerun election in Offa Local Council and other sundry issues. Excerpts:

The National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is expected to adopt a proposal, today, to amend the constitution of the party. This is to allow the president and governors on the ticket of the party serving the first term in office the right of first refusal to the party’s ticket for a second term.

An Abuja Chief Magistrate Court, yesterday, remanded the chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Omuma local government area of Rivers State, Mr. Charles Amoefule, and Assistant Secretary of the party in the state, Mr Godwin Leo, in prison custody.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, disciplinary committee constituted by the National Working Committee, NWC, has commenced deliberations on cases of alleged indiscipline by senior party members, it was learnt, Tuesday.