Anger, drama as PDP crowns Tukur, Oyinlola

New PDP Chairman Alhaji Tukur

• Mustafa, 10 others surrender to anointed candidate • Ex-Osun gov, Oyinlola, prostrates before Adeniran • Babatope bows out in anger • How the deal was struck at midnight

A mix of drama, intrigues and anger climaxed the national convention of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja yesterday with aspirants to prominent positions in the national executive committee of the party arm-twisted into stepping down  for the preferred candidates anointed by President Goodluck Jonathan and the leadership of the party.
 Alhaji Bamanga Tukur emerged the national chairman while former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola became the national secretary.
 Shortly before the guided voting exercise commenced, one of the 11 chairmanship aspirants, Dr. Shettima Mustafa, on behalf of himself and nine other aspirants, announced that they had all withdrawn their candidature for Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.
 “Having discussed the issues and having been invited by the leadership of the party, we were requested to cooperate. On behalf of the aspirants, we concede. I am mandated to concede this office to the candidate so chosen for the position,” Mustapha said in his short speech.
 Former Transport Minister and aspirant to the position of National Secretary of the party, Chief Ebenezer Babatope soon followed, mounting the podium to announce his withdrawal from the race.
With anger in his voice, Babatope said: “I am not withdrawing for anybody but for the party. I have been prevailed upon by friends to withdraw; otherwise I was determined to go ahead even if I was going to get only one vote
“So I am not stepping down for anybody. I am stepping down for the party. I have decided to step down as a mark of respect for President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo. I believe the party is supreme” 
 While this unfolded, pressure was being mounted on former Education Minister, Professor Tunde Adeniran to step down for Oyinlola. Adeniran had initially resisted.
 Oyinlola himself now approached the stand where the former minister was seated and prostrated before him as a mark of respect and patronage. Other key stakeholders were also unrelenting in begging Adeniran to withdraw from the race.
 Eventually, Adeniran caved in but not until voting to affirm Oyinlola’s sole candidature had commenced. After consultation with a group from his native Ekiti State, Adeniran mounted the podium and announced his withdrawal from the contest.
 Earlier, former deputy governor of Lagos State, Mr. Femi Pedro had announced his withdrawal and that of two others, Ademola Daramola and Bola Ola Ojo from the race.
 While this was going on, the President’s foot soldiers moved around to persuade the various aspirants to accept the choices of the Presidency for the various positions.  Governors Chibuke Amaechi (Rivers) and Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom) led a pressure group while Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim and Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu led another team.
 Former Governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala and former Senator, Iyiola Omisore were also seen persuading aggrieved aspirants to accept the President’s anointed candidates.
 It was a fait accompli as one after the other, contestants started falling in line. Immediate past vice chairman (South East) of the party, Chief Olisa Metu was announced the sole candidate for the position of the National Publicity Secretary.
 Soon after, former Transport Minister, Mrs. Kema Chikwe was declared National Women Leader without opposition.
 But voting still took place to affirm the adoption of the preferred candidates, President Jonathan, leading the Bayelsa State delegates, voted at 3.24 pm.
In his maiden speech soon after he was sworn in by Mr. Joe Gadzama (SAN),  Tukur pledged to build a bridge across faith, generations and tendencies and lay the foundation for a new Nigeria. He asked those who aspired to the office to cooperate with him as "there are no winners, no losers. We are all winners."
He said he would be guided in his actions by the constitution and manifesto of the party and would ensure that such values as adherence to separation of powers, checks and balances and rule of law are guiding principles.
President Goodluck Jonathan who had to leave the convention ground at 5.20 p.m. after the votes had been sorted but before announcement of performance of the candidates one hour later, had his speech delivered by Vice President Namadi Sambo.
Trying to calm frayed nerves, he said: "I urge all our members to remain united and place party interests above personal interests."
 He described the PDP as the strongest party in the history of the country, with effective presence in all the six zones. He said, "at the end of this convention, expect a stronger and more disciplined PDP".
Voting was conducted into four offices- the national chairman, national secretary, national financial secretary and national auditor. The result indicated that pre convention horse trading and pressure on candidates who could pose any challenge to withdraw from the contest for offices had yielded result.
There was no contest for the post of chairman as delegates were merely asked to endorse the remaining sole candidate. The Yes votes for Tukur were 3,185 and those who voted No were only 12.  As Chief Ebenezer Babatope, Professor Taoheed Adedoja, Chief Femi Pedro and Professor Tunde Adeniran reluctantly announced their withdrawal, the coast was clear for the emergence of the preferred candidate, former Osun State governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, as national secretary.
Oyinlola who was made to go through the motion of an election polled 3,061 votes, Chief Dapo Sarumi 8 and Mr Owolabi Salis 1.
Bolaji Ajani was affirmed as national auditor with 2,975 out of the 3,065 votes cast. By the time of voting, pockets of resistance had been bludgeoned into submission. He had no opponent.
All those who had threatened to contest the national publicity secretary, national women leader positions from the South East also bowed to intervention by party leaders at the convention ground.