 Welcome once again to the breakfast and plus TV Africa now and let's introduce our first major conversation for today the PDP's National Convention which comes up sometime in the month of October and of course, we're going to be speaking with Mr. Duran or DME as deputy national publicity secretary for the PDP. Good morning. Mr. DME. Thanks for joining us Good morning and thank you for having me this morning. Great to have you on plus TV Africa. Now let's first of all start with clarifying the dates for the national convention and of course picking up of forms of interest for, you know, hopeful participants in the election. Thank you very much. I'm going to be talking to you about the National Convention on the Secretary, Mr. Duran and Mr. Duran. Thank you. We are doing this today and the last date of submission is from the year of Saturday. On Monday, the screening of aspirants on the one day third day, the names of the social aspirants will be displayed. I'm going to thank you guys to participants who will be having our national convention where national publicity will be elected. Okay, it seems like it is pretty well laid out already for the party. One thing that has, and I saw when this story was put across social media, I saw a lot of the reactions. One question that was asked a lot of an insinuation that was made was that this really wasn't looking like it was going to be a free and fair process that some of the persons that will be picking up interest forms had already somehow some way been known and would simply be given these positions. Can you clarify exactly how that is false and ensure that people who might have any interest can freely come to your convention and pick up a form or come to, you know, pick up a form at the PDP? He who alleges won't be able to prove it. As far as I'm concerned and as far as I don't believe the party. PDP is the only party where internal democracy is enshrined and practiced to direct it. I don't know and I'm sure there are not any body that as the orderly, the strong orderly part from collecting of the nation's forms are presenting themselves for the election. Of course they are a personal interest and they are a collective interest. And this is what you call politics. So whoever is interested must just go ahead and, you know, obtain a form and present itself for the sake of the PDP and from there compare the election. Nobody, and I'm sure you know nobody who stopped anybody from collecting the form. But of course if I know who like the element of interest character is collecting, it is politics. You just have to play it as it is. I am brotherly, the deputy president of the PDP Secretary. I'm still looking at the gold and the rainbow and prize from people friends and colleagues to know if I'm going to contest again. But you know I have not the client interest and I have seen a lot of people aspiring to become the national publicist secretary of the party. But we have about three or four as class now. So if anybody is saying they have the disturb or they are taking that, you know, they are in the pre-selection, I want to disabuse their mind that PDP is a party that views equality to all. If you are willing to come to internal democracy, you don't have to be the son of anybody. You don't have to be somebody or anybody before you can become somebody in PDP. Okay, pretty interesting. But another factor with regards, you know, like you said, you know anybody can simply obtain a form. These forms are not free, are they? No, no, no. You know, a choice, a choice is not free. When you are, when you get rid of it, it is not free. And that is another one, you know, free of charge. Money will be spent on printing these forms. Money will be spent to organize this convention. There will be accommodation, there will be transportation, there will be money, there will be a lot of things. So these are said finance political parties. And that is why people must pay for the form, not only free. Okay, can you clarify with us what the price range is like for these forms? And for the chairmanship, for the chairmanship, it is 3 million. And for the NWC positions, it is 3 million. And for all that positions, it is 750,000. Okay, and would you say that these are affordable figures for persons who really are of interest in making a change through the platform of the PDP? Political parties are said finance. And there are people who, in part of the contest for annihilation, always contributes money to the party. And don't forget, you know, as a member of the party, you have obligations to pay your dues. To pay your dues to the party. So I don't see anything wrong with these parties. The state fund is very low. And people, a lot of people with people. Yeah, absolutely, and I understand that. But of course, there has been conversations of being an inclusive party, a party that allows anybody who of course believes in a better Nigerian, wants to achieve those goals through the PDP, to be able to do it under that platform. But 3 million Naira, 2 million Naira, 750,000 Naira. I'm sure Mr. Dayome, you would agree that those are not figures that any random Nigerian will be able to afford. That is not true, Anadu, that we will be. People in PDP are not poor. That's why the fact that they are not. They are not poor. And I can assure you that there are instances and situations where, by any friend who randomly randomly believes that they are not poor. So it's not free, it's not meant to be free. So there's nothing we can do about it other than to pay it at that minimum price. Which if you compare to other political parties, you know that PDP is linear. Very interesting. We probably will get back to this before we end the conversation. And I want to talk about the PDP as a party. And one of the reasons, of course, I've mentioned this. And like you said, PDP is not poor. But I'm sure that the PDP is also hungry to have many, many more people join the party, to continue to increase the numbers of members that it has across the country and beyond. So Mr. Dayome, share with us how much the PDP has fed with increasing its membership in the last couple of years. There's people who have said that, well, since there have been people jumping and leaving the PDP, they, of course, move along with their hundreds or maybe even thousands of followers. So do you think the PDP has done well enough in increasing its membership base in Nigeria in the last few years? Our mutual input is when the power belongs to the people. We believe PDP is an example because of the people. And we believe it is being driven by the people. Of course, there are big waves. There are big waves. There are people you think you see that leave the party because of what you have been doing. That they go with hundreds of thousands of people. It's not always the situation. There are people who believe that a PDP, that is where they can get free and fair membership. They believe that is the only political party that gives them the opportunity to operate as a Nigerian and in a political party. And right now, we have embarked on membership drive through the internet. You see the figure coming up from each state. We are becoming to the rest assured that in 2023, we will have more membership than any political party in Nigeria. And this is really why we believe that as we come back to people, we want to contest for an election. Both internally, as a political party, as a member of the U.S. and externally for the presidential position and governorship. So the PDP is on it. It is a political party that is a little bit different. You think things are going wrong for them. We call the way they are going to survive and come out to know we will be at a good echo. I'm sure a lot of people will not believe that PDP we see we made. That's why the little crisis we have among ourselves, which though is still called but you know as it is now. It is evident that the party is moving on as it is now that we are going to be to our conversion. So PDP is a party that a lot of people are enjoying and a lot of people are enjoying on PDP. This time, I'll show you. Can you give us any, I'm not sure if you will be able to, any figures as to the number of people who have joined online. Because I saw those links being shared across social media. Asking young Nigerians to also take advantage of that opportunity and get involved or register as members of the party. Is there any figures that you can share with us? To be honest with you, I cannot tell any figure now because the registration is ongoing. And I have not even gone into how many people have registered so far. For us now that you're asking the question, I will be sure I know who the figure is. Okay, in conversations that I've had before with certain other members of the party. One of the things that I asked was how the PDP itself is positioning itself to be a party that is attractive to young Nigerians. Seeing the vast number and the percentage of young people that currently live in Nigeria and are Nigerians. Our youth population is outstanding. Mr. Adeyemi, yes there are political leaders in the PDP. There are names that have been there for a long time. There are people who currently are in the PDP that we've always known about. But do you think the PDP has positioned itself in a way that it looks inviting and accommodating for a vast number of young Nigerians to join the party and join its movement? As a political party that is strategically planning to take over the globe now in 2023. And the same the product or the outcome of what the youth did with the answers that recently went past. The PDP as a political party has made it mandatory for women and the youth to take nothing like that. But it has to say of our positions. And this will be evident in the common convention whereby it will be dominated by a lot of youth and blended with leaders who are experienced. You will see the combination of this in the end of the year that we are going to hold very soon. So that is to tell you that as a political party we know the importance and the role of the youth and women in our political participation now. So that is why I am sure even I'm saying it categorically that even at the last election it was specifically mentioned that youth and women will have their culture in the formation of the National Working Committee. So that is already, it is a thing, you pick a tool what we came to it and we are just making it out. So it is in our plan. Briefly is there a possibility of a woman national chairman? Of course. People are free to obtain forms. The form is free. That would be very interesting. And I as a person who is a positive woman that comes out to be chairman of the party. It will be interesting. Okay. Let's talk about the PDP as an opposition party. You made mention that the PDP of course as it tries to take over power the mantle of leadership in 2023 will do what it can. But I want you to share your thoughts with me on this one. Do you think that the PDP will have a chance simply because it has done exceptionally well as an opposition party or because well Nigerians are tired of the current or progressive Congress government. Which would you say is more likely the reason why the PDP stands a chance in 2023? I would go for the two. Both. Not one. Of course, virtually every citizen of this country has become opposition to the PDP. Is it the subway of the people that you want to talk about in 2023 or the bad economy? Or lack of good representatives and everything in this country? So all Nigerians are in opposition. And if you are in opposition, then you are in opposition to the PDP. And really, the PDP as a political party has not done badly in opposing this government. We have shown them enough in a decent manner and in such a way that we did not follow or told the line before people come into office. There was no name they did not call it like that. And there was no black way they did not make the PDP. But we know that the oneness of the country is more important than the public that we see. And we are not ready to face getting with them. We have the distance, we have limited a lot of writing. And the sense of wanting in this country in the way we oppose the PDP. And people know the reality. And people know the truth. And that is why we are now afraid that in 2023 Nigerians are going to vote for PDP. And that is why up till now people are interested in what goes on in PDP. And against what is happening to APC. I am sure you know that there is a difference between, like you said, there are many people who are in the opposition. And are currently very, very upset with the APC. There is a difference between that and the PDP itself being an alternative. And so that is what I want you to speak on next. As the opposition party, the biggest opposition party Niger currently has, do you think that the PDP has presented itself as an alternative? Do you think that it has also been able to not just criticize but also share brighter or better ways of running government compared to what the APC has done? Are people, like you said, interested in taking the current APC government out of power simply because they are tired of the government or because they have truly seen the PDP as a viable opposition that knows what it wants for Nigeria? In my language, when you fall down, you look back to examining what made you fall. PDP as the party has done that. We have been examining ourselves. We knew where we made this statement and that was why we just continued the public apology to Nigeria. That we are never going to be a leader of knowledge and we didn't promise Nigeria that we are angels that we are going to rule. But this time around, we are going to let the government for almost 15 years and for almost 30 years now. It may be important to rule government and we have our strategy. We have human resources. We have individuals who are so brilliant and are ready to take over the leadership of this country. Who are APBP and we are presenting one of our best, one of the best to Nigerians. And by the time we reach that occasion, through our free and fair primary election that is going to be conducted, Nigerians will know that PDP is actually ready to govern and rule again. With brilliant manifestos, with assurance that we are going to teach much of the business, with assurance that we are going to correct the mistakes and the errors the APC has brought upon governance in this country. So we are ready at the political party and we do what we are doing. After our convention and the package of this month, you will see PDP in redirection and be proud of us in Nigeria. Well, I think, you know, of course, it's had about seven years now to completely distinguish itself, you know, as a party on a completely new dimension. So some people may not agree with you and of course those are those people who say the APC and the PDP are one and the same. What Nigeria needs is a third force, what Nigeria needs is a new face. Mr. Adeyemi, what would your response be to those people who believe that, really, it's been the same person who have been in either of both parties and they are one and the same, you know, political party? I would clap for them. I'd be happy if they had been in the political party that is coming, you know, on board. You know that there are not many political parties in this country. There are too many. But how many have survived what PDP and PDP have gone through? They are on the same, you know, in Showa, they don't even know what they can do to this country. We are not going to go through that. They don't know what they can do to this country because they are not going to do it. But the political parties they don't have some kind of power to do it, they don't know what they are. So that's not the political party. It's not going to be political parties. But I think it is that they don't know what they are doing, that they don't know what they are doing. If they are still in state politicians in this country, let's see how they are going to make it. Let's see how they are going to do. It's good if they can build it. It depends on the leadership, it depends on the people. But you don't expect people who have left APC and PDT to say they are going to form another political party and come up with a different ideology. I don't see that as state. I think the best thing for us in this country is to empower political parties. I believe that the political party is ideal when it was formed by the former president, the SDP and the NRC. It was still very difficult for Nigerians to move from one party to the other. You are only limited yourself to either the NRC or the SDP. I don't want to see a situation like that in this country. But if there is a plan to form a tough party, let's see how far they can go. But I'm sure if there are still politicians in this country, I don't see them making any effort. That sounds more like, whichever third force will not be able to pull off what the PDP has pulled off and so you are stuck with us. Mr Ademir, isn't that what it sounds like? I'm saying your narrative sounds like the third force and whoever it is that decides to pull off a new party will not be able to gather as much momentum as the PDP has been able to gather over the years and so Nigerians, you are stuck with us. That is exactly what I'm trying to say. That is exactly my point. And the best you can do is to make sure that this political... I'm afraid that we have an electoral law that forbids anybody from moving from one political party to the other. Or if you do that, you will force me to whatever position you vote in that political party. This will stop people from waiting up in the morning to say yes. I will just be there to go and I want to join the PDP tomorrow. So that is what I would want our electoral law to streamline, but not the commission of too many political parties. And I don't see any third force surprising the political surviving at a political party in this country. Are those two that? Well, let's see how it goes. Now, let's talk about zoning. It's one of the things that has made major conversations across the country in the last few months. What is the PDP's stance on zoning? You know, there's been, of course, thoughts from Bodejad from Atiku Abu Bakar and a few others concerning zoning, the chairmanship position. And what are that necessarily or immediately means that the PDP will be picking a candidate from the south for 2023? Well, we have done a PDP to deal with the immediate problem, though with the mindset of somebody whatever may be the outcome of future issues. Zoning is essential, and I want to give good news, good news to a great committee that did the political party, the zoning of the committee. And at the end of the day, at that assignment was, the committee is very similar for the statewide. We turn the position that when the north to the south and the one in the south to the north. Because I think it was that. But then we know after the issue of the presidency. When it comes, when we come back to the meeting, you know how to cause it. And I want to assure my friends that at the political party, we are strategic enough to know that we should present a candidate through which we can control or we can wait for the 2023 election. So if I'm going for the presidential election, let's leave that until you know we get there. Right now, the immediate problem of the immediate issue is putting the name is very good foundation for the party. So that whatever is going to be our candidate, we have a very strong footing to campaign with. Yeah, but Mr. Abdi, I mean, when you say that, of course, what you've said now is that the PDP will pick a candidate that has a very strong chance, a strong footing and is, you know, most likely to win in 2023. Is that what you're saying? Is that what I'm saying? Yeah, but will it also be important if you read the room around Nigeria and hear those people and those voices who say that they would like to see a candidate from the south? Which would be of more importance to the PDP? A candidate from the south or a candidate that, you know, more and more people want to see or region and more people want to see or a candidate that is more likely to win? In mathematics, 2 to 2 is 4. What in politics? It may be 10, it may be 9. What the PDP? We are a couple of books. Maybe surprises 105. Even we are going to choose the candidate from the north or from the south. We don't spoke your word and wait for what? We are going to choose from the right place at the appropriate time and we see what's in action. That's the best way I can answer that. Is the PDP also open to considering a candidate from the southeast? As it is now, it's open to all zones. By the time they all come out, the PDP will do its training, we will do its assessment and we will get to Nigeria and to the north that will make us to win a particular election. I hope that we have time to come back to that. Now I want us to move over to talking about the possibility of a merger. I've seen that, of course, Kings Limogalu and the ADC, as they are called, a new party that are also seeing what they can do to win the seats in 2023 and maybe also on the state level across the country. Besides the ADC, I'm sure that there will also be other candidates. Is the PDP open to a merger between itself and other parties to growing its strength as the 2023 elections move closer? The door of a political party of this is always open. And that is why you see people who can go out, you see people who can come. There is nothing wrong in coalition and there is nothing wrong in cohabiting so as to win elections. PDP is always open to individual and to groups and to political parties that want to merge and forge ahead with them. So PDP as a party does not at any time close its door to coalition of people hoping to join them to achieve success at the polls. So will the PDP be open if that possibility came of taking a president like Kings Limogalu under its umbrella? That is exactly what I said. We are open. We welcome everybody. No political party will ever reject anybody coming to join them. It's never done, the more they are there. And this is the number that the families who win the election will continue to look into ways to get that number to win the election. Okay. And I also want us to talk more on the, you know, the air around the PDP and the narrative that a lot of them are Nigerians. And I've seen and I've read people speak about certain persons like Attico Abu Bakar. And, you know, if he is, you know, the direction, you know, that the PDP really should be taking at this point. And of course, I don't expect that you would speak, you know, ill of his chances or ill of him as a person. But, you know, is the PDP also considering, you know, that it needs a fresh, you know, face, a new, you know, energy around the party to get more Nigerians to believe in it? You are asking me a question that I've not even had time to think about. What is uppermost from my mind now is the 29th to 38th of this month's Congressional. We are an ordinary political party. We are very organized. It is one step after the other. And just like I said, we will get to the bridge in order to cut it. Attico Abu Bakar, all those people whom I want to come out, let everybody come out. That is what the party has said. Through this zoning, all zones are free to present a candidate and all individuals are free to come out to aspire. When it is time, the PDP will screen, the PDP will conduct a fleet of clear, primary elections and whatever it might be that we can do, we will, by the special needs of God, because the President of this country is the President of this country. You're on the air, me. I truly enjoyed this conversation and I'm going to, you know, keep this in mind that you said 35% women and youth. You know, that of course will be, that is what the PDP has decided must stand in the convention. And also, you know, the PDP is also welcoming young Nigerians to join the party, among other things. But thank you very much for your time this morning. Thank you so much. And looking forward to speaking with you again. Thank you very much for this opportunity. I enjoyed the conversation and I'm happy to be with you. Thank you. Have a good day, sir. All right, stay with us. When we come back, we're moving from the PDP to the APC. And of course, a little bit of political discussions here and there in the All Progressive Congress, in town of politics mostly. That comes up next after the short break. Good morning.