PDP Convention: Hotels In Abuja, Nasarawa, Niger Fully - Booked

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Ahead of tomorrow’s national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), all major hotels and guest houses in the Federal Capital and bordering states of Nasarawa and Niger states have been fully booked for the event.

Expectedly too, hotel owners have seized the opportunity of the convention to either increase their rates or in some cases, cancelled the usual discounts enjoyed by guests during weekends.

A survey of the hotels in Abuja yesterday revealed that all hotels have been fully paid for, even at exorbitant prices by the party potential delegates and foot soldiers of some aspirants.

A visit to Transcorp Hilton revealed that all the rooms have been reserved for stalwarts except for the Ambassadorial suite, which costs N372,000 per night, excluding 10% service charge.

At Nanet Suites, which is around the vicinity of the convention, a worker confirmed that all the rooms have been sold out.

A chat with an official of the hotel who did not want his name in print revealed that the situation is not unconnected with the Saturday convention of the PDP.

He said: “You know the PDP will hold their convention on Saturday that’s why our hotel is fully booked. It is not only our hotel; all other hotels in the city especially around this area are all fully booked. A woman just booked 50 rooms here and paid in full. There is currently a mad dash for hotels by people who failed to make reservations on time.”

LEADERSHIP Friday further gathered that the rate of a standard classic room which usually goes for N35,000 per night has been hiked to between fifty and sixty thousand naira.

This is contrary to what is obtainable in the hotel business where rooms go for 30% discount on weekends.

On inquiry on the hike, hotel operators said it was the only way they can benefit from the convention.

A visit to Sheraton Hotel, Immaculate Hotel and Sigma Apartments also revealed the rooms were all fully-booked.

When LEADERSHIP Friday visited some hotels around Area 10 and 11 of Garki axis in the FCT, it was discovered that hoteliers are making brisk businesses, due to the number of aspirants and delegates from across the country converging on the FCT.

Curiously, all the bookings had been done a few days before today even as most of the party delegates were yet to arrive for the convention.

For hotels like Ayalla and Bolton White at Area 11, exotic cars were seen parked everywhere around, giving indication of many guests in the hotels.

At Agura and Nicon Luxury Hotels around Area 10 and 11 respectively, the story was not different.

At Nicon Luxury Hotels, one of the customers that LEADERSHIP Friday met at the front desk demanding for a suite was told that the rooms were fully booked.

When one of the front desk officers saw the worried facial expression of the disappointed potential guest, he advised him to check outside the city centre, saying he was aware that most hotels are fully booked in the city centre.   

One of the front desk officers called Akpan John, who responded to LEADERSHIP Friday casually in one of the hotels visited asked; “Are u not in Abuja, are you not aware that the largest party in Africa is holding its convention on Saturday? So, what do you expect? Many people will troop into Abuja and I doubt if there is room in any hotel in the FCT as at now,” he said.

At the 3J’s Hotel, Utako, Abuja, the Director of operations, Joseph Olotu admitted that the hotel was expecting to get more people that would stay at the hotel for the convention.

Also speaking, the manager of Oscar Lounge and Guest House, Ike Kalu said, the lounge have gotten a lot of calls from people who wanted to lodge there for the convention but added that they were expecting them to start trooping in today.

PDP’s national secretary election deferred

Meanwhile, PDP has deferred the election into the position of national secretary of the party.

Aspirants who bought nomination forms in readiness for the contest have therefore been asked to take a refund of the N500,000 they had paid for nomination forms.

Also, in spite of agitation by some aspirants on the zoning arrangement for some offices, the party has urged that the pre-convention zoning of offices should be respected.

Gana said the election for the office of national Secretary was stood down because of a pending case in court instituted by the former occupant of the office, Olagunsoye Oyinlola. Oyinlola had gone to court to appeal over his removal by a Federal High Court ruling. Some aspirants who had purchased forms for N500,000, include Prof. Tunde Adeniran, Ebenezer Babatope, Dapo Sarunmi and others.

Gana said “for the avoidance of doubt, election into the office of the national secretary has been deferred until the final determination of a subsisting court case on this matter. As soon as the case is concluded, appropriate decisions will be taken in accordance with the directives of the Court judgement, when delivered.”

On the zoning issue, particularly for the position of the national publicity secretary which was zoned to the South-East, Gana’s deputy, Ekweremadu, said the zoning arrangement persists.

I won’t quit PDP - Gov. Aliyu

Also yesterday, Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State declared yesterday that he has no plan to dump PDP despite the leadership crisis that has destabilised internal democracy in the party.

The governor, who clarified on his position after meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at the presidential villa, Abuja, also said he has no personal problem with the president who, according to him, has been dragged into every controversy in the country.

Aliyu, who is the chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum and a member of the G5, the northern governors who recently embarked on a consultation tour on the crisis in PDP, maintained that despite the fact that there are issues to settle over the leadership of the party, he had no plan to defect from the party.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting he had with the President, Governor Aliyu who noted that he was not aware of any plan, either by himself or the other PDP governors to float a new political party said, “I am not a quitter. God took me to PDP. My prayer was to be a Head of Service and God said I should be governor under PDP and I am not about quitting now unless I am dismissed. But I am not jumping from one party to another”.

The governor clarified further that he and his colleagues have no quarrelled with Jonathan, even as he expressed worry that the president’s name had been associated with every controversy in the country.

On the suspension of Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi from the PDP, Aliyu urged the factional chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to withdraw the case he filed against the party challenging the suspension in order to pave way for political resolution.

Andy Uba, others suspended

In the meantime, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP has suspended Senator Andy Uba, his brother, Chris, the factional chairman of the party in the state, Chief Ejike Oguebego and three other chieftains of the party for participating in what the party called an illegal party primary in Anambra State.

This was contained in a letter sent to the affected party chieftains by the acting National Secretary, Dr. Charles Aderemi Akintoye.

Also affected by the suspension order are Chief Benji Udeozor and Mrs. Anthonia Nwankwu

Uba and others had shunned a summon issued by the party on Tuesday, for them to appear on Wednesday, to explain why they should not be disciplined by the party for participating in a primary not recognised by the party. The NWC also asked the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to investigate how sensitive electoral materials were used at the primary.

Uba had won a primary organised by factional chairman, Ejike Oguebego, who is recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). However, Tony Nwoye has been handed the party’s certificate of return, having emerged winner of another primary recognised by the NWC and conducted by Ken Emeakayi.

But according to the letter dated August 29, and addressed to each of the party members “the NWC at its 353rd meeting held on Wednesday, 28th August, 2013 reviewed the happenings in Anambra PDP regarding the Anambra Primary Election.

“It was noted that you organized a parallel state congress which was unauthorised by the party contrary to section 58 (1) a, b, c, f, h and j of the PDP constitution (2012 as amended).

“As a result of this, you were invited to meet with the NWC on Wednesday 28, August, 2013 for fair hearing, but you did not appear.

“In view of the seriousness of the issues involved, you are hereby suspended from the party and the case referred to the appropriate Disciplinary Committee for further necessary action”.

PDP Convention: I-G deploys counter- terrorism, anti-bomb squads in Abuja

The inspector-general of police, Mohammed Abubakar, has ordered officers and men of the Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter-Terrorist Unit (CTU), Anti-Bomb Squad and the Police Air Wing to provide water-tight security for Saturday’s national convention of the PDP.

Abubakar gave the directive yesterday, in a statement signed by the force spokesman, CSP Frank Mba, where he assured delegates to the PDP Special Convention that the police will provide adequate security in and around the venue of the event.

Abubakar said he had also issued an operational order to the Commissioner of Police in the FCT, Mr Femi Ogunbayode, directing him to ensure “tactical and well-coordinated deployment of personnel and equipment”.

The statement said that the deployment was to provide safe and conducive atmosphere for the convention.

“He has equally directed the deployment of personnel of the Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter-Terrorist Unit (CTU), Anti-Bomb Squad and the Police Air Wing for aerial patrol.

“In addition, personnel of the Canine section and special operatives of the FIB are to be deployed for the operation.

“The AIG Zone 7 has been directed to personally take charge of the entire operation to guarantee a seamless command and control of the exercise,” it said.

It said that all roads leading to Eagle Square, venue of the convention, would be barricaded and traffic diverted with effect from 4.00pm on Friday, Aug. 30.

The statement listed the roads as: Ahmadu Bello Way Fly-over; Benue Plaza; Ministry of Finance junction; Bullet junction; Bayelsa House junction; and Ministry of Foreign Affairs Fly-over.

The IGP who advised motorists to utilise alternate routes during the convention warned persons not participating in the convention to avoid the venue saying that police operatives had been instructed to restrain all intruders irrespective of status.