Mark visits Mu’azu over automatic tickets for PDP senators

 Alhaji Ahmadu Adamu Mu'azu

The Acting National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, and the Senate President, David Mark, met in Abuja on Thursday over the demand for automatic tickets by some senators.

Also at the meeting, which was held inside Mu’azu’s office at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja, was the Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN).

Mark, who came in company with Ndoma-Egba, did not ride in his official car.

He was also not accompanied by the usual heavy security personnel and motorcycle riders that normally lead his convoy.

Dressed in simple shirt, Mark briskly walked into the office of Mu’azu as soon as he alighted from the black car that brought him.

He was followed by Ndoma-Egba, who is struggling to fly the senatorial flag of the party in his home state of Cross River.

Neither Mu’azu nor his guests agreed to speak with journalists after the meeting, which lasted for about 45 minutes.

However, sources at the meeting said that Mark used the occasion to remind the party’s chairman about the need to favour some members of the Senate during the forthcoming primary aimed at picking senatorial candidates of the party.

“The Senate President used the occasion to appeal to the national leadership of the party to, at least, help the senators return as candidates of the party in order for the PDP and the Presidency to have a smooth Senate in 2015,” the source said.

He also said that the meeting discussed the alleged plan by some senators to table an impeachment notice against President Goodluck Jonathan on December 16, when the Senate resumes.

It was learnt that Mark promised to speak with the aggrieved senators, but asked the party to also “do the needful for the senators.”

Meanwhile, Mu’azu has inaugurated the committee that will handle the national convention of the party, which is scheduled to hold in Abuja on December 10 and 11.

Addressing members of the committee, Mu’azu commended them for honouring the invitation of the party to appear for the inauguration despite the short notice.

He said they have exhibited high level of commitment and loyalty to the party and urged them to work together as a team towards the successful conduct of the national convention where President President   Jonathan will be formally ratified as the presidential candidate of the party during the convention.

Mu’azu declared that the national leadership of the party had confidence in their ability to organise a hitch-free convention and assured them of the support of the leadership of the party.

In his response, the chairman of the committee, Dr. Haliru Mohammed, said the task before the committee was a daunting one that required them working 24 hours till the convention date.

He said notwithstanding they would deliver on their mandate.

Mohammed assured the national chairman that the committee would commence work immediately they left his office where the inaugurated took place.

Present at the inauguration were some PDP governors and the Special Assistant to the President on Political affairs, Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali, who is also the Assistant Secretary of the committee