Party Primaries: PDP Loses Eagle Square To APC, Reveals New Venue
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lost its planned presidential primary site, Eagle Square, to the All Progressives Congress (APC) (APC).
The opposition party lost the site to the governing party with the support of Muhammed Musa Bello, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Bello is said to have assisted the APC in reserving Eagle Square for its presidential primary set for May 30 and June 1.
The minister reportedly refused the PDP’s request to host its special convention/presidential primary in Eagle Square. The opposition’s presidential primary was set on May 28 and 29.
The opposition party has allegedly shifted their event to the MKO Abiola Stadium on the outskirts of Abuja as a result of the development.
On Tuesday, the PDP Convention Planning Committee, chaired by former Senate President David Mark, visited the stadium to inspect the amenities at the proposed special convention site.
Meanwhile, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has retaliated against the president’s claim that the organization is advocating for Nigeria’s disintegration.
NEF claimed that accusing the presidency of sponsoring demands for particular tribes or areas to leave Nigeria was a mischievous move.
The NEF’s spokesman, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, stated that the forum never issued a statement asking for Nigeria’s disintegration, as alleged by the president, and that the group is committed to the country’s unity.
The move comes after the administration issued a statement on Tuesday in which Mallam Garba Shehu, the senior special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, claimed NEF has no authority to speak on behalf of Nigerians simply because it has access to the media.