Big wigs of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are in Abuja for the party convention which has already achieved 90 consensus on filling of vacant positions, according to the Governor of Sokoto state and chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Aminu Tambuwal.

Aside sitting PDP governors, those in Abuja attending the convention include immediate past Vice President, Namadi Sambo, who is attending any PDP function for the first time since he left office in 2015; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate Presidents David Mark, Adolphus Wabara and Pius Anyim; former PDP national chairman, Okwesilieze Nwodo; and former Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu.

Also for the convention are former Governors Sam Egwu (Ebonyi); Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna); Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Ibrahim Shema (Katsina); Babangida Aliyu (Niger); Peter Obi (Anambra); and Emeka Ihedioha (Imo).

Tambuwal sounding very optimistic said that the party would emerge strong from its national convention to receive those coming to join it. There has been speculation of a mass exodus from the ruling APC and other parties to the PDP.

Tambuwal who briefed newsmen after the PDP stakeholders’ meeting held at Akwa-lbom Governor’s Lodge in Abuja on Friday night, said even though 90 per cent has been achieved on consensus candidates, efforts were still ongoing to ensure consensus candidate on all positions.

“You can see virtually all great leaders of our great party are here with the governors of various states under the control of our party where we received final briefings on the convention.

“The convention committee has assured us that everything is being done for us to have a very successful and hitch-free convention.

“As we have assured you yesterday, we’re still working on having consensus on virtually all the positions. So far, we’ve achieved 85 to 90 per cent of that.

“By the grace of God, work is still in progress. Our leaders are going to continue to talk to the remaining contestants and see how best we can build and achieve that consensus.

“We thank God, we thank our leaders for their full participation in all that has been happening and all that we’ve been doing to get to where we are today.

“By the grace of God, PDP is back strongly and at the end of the convention, tomorrow through to Sunday we’re going to have a repositioned PDP that we’ll be ready to receive many more people that are going to join this party soonest,” Tambuwal said.

The positions the party is yet to have consensus candidate are deputy national chairman (south), national youth leader and national auditor.