The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Executive Committee has set up a committee to consider the possibility of changing the party’s name ahead of the 2019 general elections.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, made the fact known when he briefed newsmen on the decision of the emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) in Abuja on Monday.
Ologbondiyan said the step was part of efforts to re-brand and reposition the party ahead of 2019.
“The party has immediately constituted a committee on harmonisation.
“The responsibility of the Harmonisation Committee is to commence the process of the possibility of change of name as part of effort to re-brand our party and to reposition it for 2019 general elections.
“So we await the outcome of the Harmonisation Committee. ”
Ologbondiyan said the party also approved the expulsion of Sen. Buruji Kashamu, representing represents Ogun East Senatorial District in the National Assembly and three other PDP members in the state.
He said the others expelled from party in Ogun were Semiu Sodipo, Bayonne Adebayo and Segun Sheriki.
Ologbondiyan explained that the disciplinary action was taken against the members for hobnobbing with the ruling party, an action considered unacceptable to PDP.
He warned that with the way PDP had been repositioned, it would not accept untoward behaviour from. members.
Ologbondiyan added that the NEC also approved the decision of the party National Working Committee (NWC) to go to court over Ekiti governorship election.
“The legal Committee has been constituted under the party National Legal Adviser to take all issues bordering on the state election to the court.”
He added that the NEC also considered the issues of the PDP coalescing with 38 other political parties, including the Reformed All Progressives Congresses (RAPC).
“NEC applauded the decision of the party to work with the grand alliance. The NEC also applauded the infusion of RAPC into PDP.
“We have been encouraged as members of NWC to continue to receive those who are tired of government of the day very desirous of liberating our nation from misrule of APC.”
Ologbonyo added that the NEC also approved the 2019 general elections timetable of the party and released to party members.
Responding to question on how the party intended to manage the return of defecting members to the PDP, Ologbondiyan said that the party already had a template for that.
He said that the party had a percentage of the party structure for elective officers returning to the party.
Ologbondiyan , however, said the party leadership would not impose its will on the state structure.
The PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, earlier said at the opening of the meeting, that the party would reclaim its victory in the just concluded governorship election in Ekiti.
Secondus said what happened in Ekiti was a sham and mockery of democracy, which must not be allowed to happen in Osun.
“Let me assure our teeming supporters that we have all the polling unit results and overwhelming records of electoral infractions by the APC, security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“We will reclaim our mandate in court,” Secondus said.
He said that the meeting was called to review recent happenings in the country and to take critical decisions that would help salvage the country’s democracy.
He condemned the unending killings across the country, saying “life is no longer worth anything with rivers of blood a constant spectacle.
“No day passes without innocent Nigerians being slaughtered in their numbers by killer herdsmen, bandits or Boko Haram.
“Insecurity has so worsened that people are genuinely scared to travel freely. Yet this was a government that promised to wipe out Boko Haram in a matter of weeks.
“The lack of political will to rein in the killer herdsmen has left Nigerians and the international community in shock.”
Secondus said that the situation in the country demanded that all people of goodwill must join hands to legally vote out the APC government.
“One thing is clear, Nigeria is heading for disaster and Nigerians
are looking up to PDP and other democrats to halt the slide. We shall not disappoint them.”(NAN)
