Abuja — PRESIDENT Umaru Musa Yar'adua yesterday declared that the possibility of a consensus candidate for the coveted office of chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, remains very remote even as he admitted that the PDP is the most complex party on the African continent.

Yar'Adua said today's convention would be very democratic and open.

This position also accounts for the decision of the party not to screen or shortlist any chairmanship candidate. The race remains open.

However, as at the time of going to press, meetings were still being held with a view to harmonising the various contending positions and interests at play.

Meanwhile at one of the meetings slated for yester night, leader of the G-21, former senate president Ken Nnamani was expected to raise the amendment to the earlier amendment of 2005 which made former President Olusegun Obasanjo singularly qualified to be Board of Trustee, BOT, chairman.

Also, as at the time of going to press, Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, was abuzz with rumours of a consensus candidate.

Vincent Ogbulafor, former national secretary of the PDP, was being touted as a consensus candidate. There were also stories of a possible candidacy of Bernard Eze, just as Sam Egwu's candidacy continued to receive boosts from entrenched Obasanjo supporters.

Former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim also continues to work the phones, holding meetings and consultations with a view to further strengthening his base.

Speaking at the 44th meeting of the National Executive Committee, NEC, of the PDP, Yar'Adua stated that the successful conduct of ward, local governments and state congresses of the party was an indication that the PDP was democratic and prepared to take Nigeria to greatness. He also commended the discipline of party members.

"I would like to use the opportunity to congratulate the chairman, members of the NWC, NEC and all national and state leaders of our party and indeed all members of PDP for successfully conducting and completing ward, local government, state and Zonal congresses. Once again, PDP as a political party is demonstrating and upholding democratic principles and internal democracy in its system.

"I have always said and I will always maintain that the PDP is the hope for democracy not only in Nigeria , but on the entire African continent. I must say to all of us congratulations. I am aware of the excellent preparations put in place for the national convention which will be exemplary and once again show PDP as a party that upholds the rule of law, that is the way that will lead to ensuring the development of a robust democratic culture and once again, prove itself as a party that has the capacity to lead this country to greatness. I wish all of us a very happy and successful convention", he said.

President Yar'adua praised the outgoing National Chairman, Dr. Amadu Ali and other NEC members of the party for piloting the affair of the party well in the past three years and promised that the PDP would democratically elect its leaders at the national convention.

"I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the outgoing National chairman for the burden of leadership they have successfully carried out over the past three years.

Your leadership has been very successful and it requires skill, knowledge to steer and successfully lead a party, the largest party in Africa, the most complex party in Africa, the most disciplined party in Africa .

"I have no doubt in my mind that at the convention, PDP will again democratically elect leaders that will continue to lead our party to greatness. I know that PDP leaders who will emerge will continue the excellent work where Ali led NEC left. I pray for God's guidance for whoever among us will emerge as new leaders", he added.

While noting that as a former chairman he would always be required to make contributions where necessary, the president said that "once a chairman, one would always remains a chairman," in obvious reference to Ahmadu Ali, the outgoing chairman.

Earlier in his speech, the out-going National Chairman, Dr. Ahmadu Alli thanked the NEC and Board of Trustees [BOT] members for cooperating with his administration saying he was particularly honoured to have chaired the meetings where presidents sat as members.

He reflected that the 44th meeting would be the last one where he would be presiding as a chairman after which he would join the league of former chairmen of the party and sit on the fence when meetings are going on.

There was only one item on the agenda of the meeting which was the consideration of the audit report for 2006/2007 but sources said other salient political issues especially the controversies surrounding the

zonal congresses. As at the time of this report, the list of delegates to the congress was not ready and accreditation issues were muddled up.

Impeccable sources disclosed to our reporters that the INEC reportedly cancelled the results of congresses from seven states of the federation but no reason was advanced for the action. It was however observed that some of the states had parallel congresses from where multiple officers emerged.

The proposed amendment of the party's constitution which brought former President Olusegun Obasanjo into office as BOT chairman may also be discussed at the meeting as the leader of the G21 Senator Ken Nnamani who was at the meeting is expected to raise the issue.

The group had written a reminder to the party executive and BOT last week on the matter but did not receive concrete assurances on whether or not the matter would be raised at the convention.