When the leadership  of
the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, re-appointed the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike as the chairman of the 17th August, 2016 National Convention Planning Committee,  it was because  the party needed a strong and dedicated   political strategist with the right skills to weather the storm of the  anti-denocratic  antics  of the ruling party.
They knew ab-initio  that it would  take the political engineering  skills of a tested political horse to ensure the success of the repeat National Convention of the PDP, in the face of the developmental  failures  of the party in power at the centre.
Judicial  Doubts
A few days to the convention,  it became quite clear that there was a deliberate plot from the powers that be to scuttle  the National Convention in Port Harcourt.  As preparations reached fever pitch, the Judicial  struggle over the propriety or otherwise  of the convention came to the fore.
The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt inSuit Number FHC/PH/CS/585/2016, between Senator Ben Obi for himself and other members of the National Planning Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the Inspector-General of Police,  the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State,  State Security Service, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,  ordered the  Police,  DSS  and INEC  to  participate  in  the  17th August, 2016 National Convention.
He declared that, “it is necessary for  the defendants to carry out their respective  functions at the 17th August,  2016”.
The court further  declared  that  its judgment  of  4th July, 2016 remains valid until  set aside by a competent jurisdiction,  which in this case is the Court of Appeal.
On the other hand, another Federal High Court in Abuja,  presided over by Justice Okon Abang gave an interlocutory injunction asking the Inspector General of Police not to provide for the August 17th National Convention.
Judicial Distinction
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria,  Dejo Lamikanra explained   that  regarding  the  PDP  conflict, there is only one judgment—that delivered by Justice  Liman  of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt which validated the May 21 National Convention of the PDP giving life to the National Caretaker Committee of the PDP  under the leadership of Senator Ahmed Makarfi.
Lamikanra  (SAN) noted that the interlocutory injunction of Justice Abang  is inferior to the judgment and therefore cannot be placed above the considered judgment of a court.
In a similar vein, the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt  through its judgment on the originating summons  filed by the Secretary of the Caretaker Committee on 16th August,  2016 reaffirmed  that the National Caretaker Committee is the only organ with executive  powers at present in the PDP.
Therefore,  there was no controversy as to the body that had the legal backing to conduct the activities  of  the PDP.  It was clear that until the Court of Appeal decides oterwise, the Ahmed Makarfi-led PDP Caretaker Committee was in legal control of the party.
Endorsements for the National Convention
The Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, declared  its  support for the conduct  of the National Convention in Port Harcourt.
Speaking  during a solidarity  visit on Governor  Wike  at the Government House,  Port Harcourt, a day before the convention ,  Chairman of the Board of  Trustees  ,  Senator Walid Jubrin said board members  at their pre-convention meeting  endorsed the contributions  of  the  governor  to re-position  the party.
The Board of Trustees stated that the appointment of the governor  as the chairman of the National Convention Planning Committee was commendable as it has helped to set up a worthwhile convention.
.Senator Wali Jubrin said all the leaders of the PDP were in Rivers State for the National Convention .
Head of Publicity of the Caretaker Committee , Prince Dayo Adeyeye on the eve of the National Convention announced that the convention would go ahead on the strength of Justice Ibrahim Watila judgment of 16th August, 2016.
A statement by Prince Adeyeye read : “Our attention has been drawn once again to another act of judicial recklessness by the Honourable Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Okon Abang of the purported suspension of the PDP National Convention holding in Port Harcourt, Rivers on Wednesday the 17 of August 2016.
“We wish to however state that a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt Rivers State has earlier in the day given a comprehensive Order wherein the Honourable Judge specifically ordered the PDP to proceed with the convention as scheduled without hindrance. Indeed his lordship while given the Order mandated all relevant agencies including The Police, DSS and INEC to cooperate with the Party in organizing a hitch free National Convention.
“You may also wish to note that the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State gave an Interlocutory Order while Justice Okon Abang, Abuja, gave an interim order. The order of Port Harcourt is clearly superior and earlier in time to the interim order given by Justice Okon Abang. In the light of the above, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a law-abiding party is obeying the order of the Port Harcourt Federal High Court until set aside by any competent court of jurisdiction.
“In view of the above, the 2016 Repeat National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will continue as scheduled as we welcome all delegates, party leaders, other critical stakeholders, INEC monitoring team and other friends of PDP to Port Harcourt, Rivers State while wishing all our members and supporters a successful National Convention.”
Failed Attempt to Scuttle PDP National Convention
In the early hours of 17th August, 2016, security  agents acting on illegal  orders from above invaded Sharks Stadium, venue of the PDP National Convention.  Numbering over 500, they chased out all delegates and party officials   who were gathered at the  venue waiting  for  the convention to kick off . Armed to the teeth with armoured personnel carriers and sophisticated weapons,  they also blocked all routes to the stadium.
The police high command  claimed that they obeyed an interlocutory injunction from Justice Okon Abang.  With the benefit of hindsight, Nigerians now know the value of Justice Abang’s judgments.  The Court of Appeal  made very fundamental pronouncements on Justice Okon Abang.
Following the action by the security agencies, all the organs of the PDP met at the Government House, Port Harcourt where they took far reaching decisions. The principal decision being that the PDP must defend the  nation’s democracy,  which it has nurtured to maturity. They resolved to go ahead with the PDP National Convention.
Successful National Convention
The process for the successful PDP National Convention started with inauguration of the National Executive Committee of the party by the National Caretaker Committee Chairman, Senator Ahmed Makarfi at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
Performing  the inauguration at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Wednesday , Senator Makarfi  said that the National Executive Committee, NEC, include the PDP  Governors,  National Assembly Caucus , Board of Trustees,  National Caucus, 36 State PDP chairmen and national officers of the party
The PDP National Convention approved the extension of the tenure of the National Caretaker Committee led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi by 12 months.
The motion was moved by Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekeremadu and seconded by the former Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Zainab Maina.
The Chairman of the National Convention Planning Committee, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo  Wike put the question  for the extension  of the  lifespan  of the committee,  which  was unanimously  approved.
The National  Caretaker Committee  was expanded to have a membership  of  13 persons. The National Convention further approved that no member of  the  current National Caretaker Committee will contest elections  whenever  it is held.
The National  Convention  had earlier  adopted a motion  moved by the Minority  Leader,  Leo Ogor to amend the agenda  of  the  National Convention  and step down the issue of election.
Party leaders in separate  goodwill  messages  at the National Convention  condemned the Federal Government for entrenching political impunity that is a threat to democracy.
In his acceptance speech, Chairman of the PDP National Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi assured that the party will continue to forge ahead.
Attendance
The 17th August National Convention attracted thousands of PDP faithful from the 36 States of the Federation and Abuja. The population far exceeded the number that attended the May 21 National Convention earlier in the year.
In attendance were the 12 PDP Governors, several former Governors, Senators, House of Representatives members, State Assembly members, former Ministers, BOT members, 36 State PDP chairmen and party elders.
From the list of leaders and delegates that participated in the convention,  it  was clear that Senator Ali-Modu Sheriff was being used by external forces to distract the party. The former Acting National Chairman has no founding member or leader of the PDP with him.
It is instructive  to note that before the amendment  of  the agenda  of the National Convention to remove the election of party officers, 57 candidates  had been screened and ready for the voting process.
Peaceful Nature of Port Harcourt
One point that must not be discountenanced in any post-convention analysis  is the peaceful nature of Port Harcourt and Rivers State.  Over 100,000 Nigerians directly and indirectly connected to the convention converged in the state without an incident.
Even the illegal actions of security agencies did not provoke the people as they insisted on maintaining peace so that democracy can thrive.
Governor Wike’s Post National Convention Assessment
Chairman of the National Convention Planning Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party and Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike stated that the successful conduct of the August 17th National Convention of the party flows from the commitment of all bonafide members  to reposition it in the interest of the country.
Governor  Wike  in an interview  noted that the calibre of members  who graced the  convention  proves that the party has moved on after the unnecessary crisis generated by its former Acting National Chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff.
Governor Wike said, “the calibre of persons who attended  the National Convention is an indication  that the PDP  remains  strong with quality  members  who are ever ready to make sacrifices.
“At the national  convention were PDP Governors, former Governors,  Senators,  House of Representatives members, former Ministers, BOT members, all State PDP chairmen, party elders and delegates from all over the country.  We are happy that the  party has moved on”.
He noted that the PDP  is a law-abiding party, which did not struggle  with the security agencies  after they illegally  invaded the initial  venue of the National Convention.  He said  the party leaders and delegates  simply  moved to another location  for a successful National Convention.
Victory for Democracy
The resolve of the PDP  leaders to go ahead with the PDP National Convention despite  the display of impunity  by the powers that be is a victory for democracy  and the rule of law. It proved that no level of  deployment  of  the agents of state  violence  can not stop the PDP  from working towards the deepening of democracy,  with the ultimate  goal of changing the government in  2019.
The successful  17th August National Convention further proved that the leaders and members of the PDP  are determined to  stake their resources in defence of democracy  which they groomed since 1999. After all, Nigeria  is enjoying  its longest spell of democracy,  courtesy of the PDP.
Nwakaudu is Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor, on Electronic Media.