Atiku and Saraki accept PDP decision to hold presidential primaries in Port Harcourt

FORMER vice president Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has denied he is uncomfortable with the recent decision by his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to hold this weekend's national convention in the Rivers State capital Port Harcourt amid fears that it may be hijacked

Next weekend, the PDP will meet in Port Harcourt to among other things determine who will be its presidential candidate in next February's elections. Candidates seeking the party ticket include Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Aminu Tambuwal, Bukola Saraki, Ibrahim Dankwambo, Sule Lamido, Tanimu Turaki, Attahiru Bafarawa, Jonah Jang, Ahmed Datti and David Mark.

Over the last week, some PDP members have questioned the decision to hold the convention in Port Harcourt as it is the home state of Governor Wike, the party's major financier and Prince Uche Secondus the PDP chairman. Prince Secondus has been known to back Sokoto State governor Aminu Tambuwal's presidential ambition, prompting some party members to suggest that the convention be moved to a more neutral venue.

After a meeting of the PDP's national executive committee in Abuja yesterday, however, it was agreed to hold the convention in Port Harcourt. Governor Wike recently lashed out at some presidential aspirants opposed to Port Harcourt hosting the summit, saying they are not living up to their campaign promises about restructuring the country but the former vice president said he was happy with the choice of the garden city.

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar said: "Port Harcourt is my second home. I don’t need accommodation in Port Harcourt, I don’t need security and I am comfortable.”

Senate president Senator Bukola Saraki, said he too was okay with the choice of Port Harcourt as venue for the party’s national convention. He added that despite disagreements, it was eventually agreed upon to hold the summit in the Rivers State capital.

Senator Saraki said: “We all agreed to hold it in Port Harcourt. Some of the issues that we are having before, which were reported in papers, we discussed but everybody decided that we should stay with the party.

“Where tempers flared, people apologised and everyone felt, yes there was a commitment to assure everybody that there will be free and fair primaries.”

Outgoing Ekiti State governor Ayo Fayose, added: “We had a successful meeting and all grey issues were resolved. Most popular among these grey issues was the venue of our national convention and we have successfully resolved this.

"We have taken a position that the convention will hold at Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Beyond this, there were assurances of free, fair election and that the aspirants will accept the outcome of the result.”