PDP delegates reject constitutional amendment on women; tight security, orderliness at convention

Delegates to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national convention on Saturday in Abuja rejected constitutional amendment which provided one deputy national chairman position for a female member.
The delegates voted emphatic 1194 votes against the proposal. A total of 2124 delegates were accredited for the convention.
However, some sections of the party’s constitution were amended via a motion by Bayelsa State Governor, Serieke Dickson.
According to Dickson, the proposed amendments include the preamble of the PDP Constitution to reflect current realities.
Some of the clauses amended were Section 8 and 50 to ease the process of rejoining the party by former members.
They were also amended to reduce the minimum period of membership by returnees and new members before they can stand for election on the party’s platform.
Section 29, 30, 31, 35 and 45 were amended to provide for two deputy national chairmen and make the six national vice chairmen of the party members of its National Working Committee.
Meanwhile, the convention recorded tight security and order at the Eagle Square venue of the event.
The venue was condoned off by Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), which took charge of security.
Officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) were also on hand to control movement of persons and vehicles.
Only accredited vehicles conveying the delegates were allowed into the arena.
All roads leading to the Eagle Square were barricaded, making delegates, supporters and vendors to walk more than two kilometres to get to the venue.
The PDP had on Wednesday alerted the nation of plan by some persons to disrupt the convention.
National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Dayo Adeyeye, who made it known at a news conference in Abuja, alleged that members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were plotting the disruption of the event.
He exonerated the leadership of the APC, especially President Muhammadu Buhari, saying that the attack at the venue of the convention was being plotted by persons in the lower rung of the party.
However, delegates, party supporters and the traders conducted themselves orderly as they were all monitored by the security operatives to ensure that there was no breach of regulations.
One of the operatives said on condition of anonymity that they had instructions to remain alert and ensure that nothing went wrong.