NIGERIA: PDP HOLDS LESS "FLAMBOYANT" IF NOT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 000712 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/W, INR/AA BAGHDAD FOR DMCCULLOUGH E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/2019 TAGS: PGOV KDEM NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA: PDP HOLDS LESS "FLAMBOYANT" IF NOT CONTENTIOUS JAMBOREE REF: ABUJA 670 Classified By: Political Counselor Walter Pflaumer for reasons 1.4. (b & d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The People's Democratic Party (PDP) held its 2009 Special National Convention on Monday April 20 at Eagle Square in Abuja. Almost 4000 delegates voted overwhelmingly to approve amendments to the party's constitution regarding the composition of party congresses and the national convention, establishing a five year tenure for members of the Board of Trustees, removing language which reserved the Board of Trustees Chairmanship to former President Obasanjo (or which at least gave him the right of first refusal for the position),and raising the annual party membership dues from 200 naira (approx. $1.33) to 600 naira (approx. $4). We are still seeking copies of the exact amendment language (it was not publicly distributed) in order to determine the extent to which the powers of the BOT Chairman have been curtailed, though party officials claim the changes are substantial. The language adopted has already caused controversy, as it apparently does not stipulate whether the Chairman's five year tenure would be applied retroactively or commence as of the amendment's enactment date. Also unclear is whether the new language gives any member of the BOT the right to call for a new election of BOT Chair, or it requires a majority of members of the Board. (See septel on Ambassador's meeting with Kwara Governor Saraki on PDP Convention issues. He claims that the constitutional changes will take effect from the date of the amendment.) END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) The People's Democratic Party (PDP) held its 2009 Special National Convention on Monday April 20 at Eagle Square in Abuja. Almost 4000 delegates voted overwhelmingly to approve amendments to the party's constitution with regard to the composition of party congresses and the national convention (passed 3807 to 13); specifying a five year tenure for members of the Board of Trustees and deleting language reserving the position of BOT Chairman for former President Obasanjo (passed 3914 to 26); and raising the annual party membership dues from 200 to 600 naira (approx. $4) which passed by a margin of 3916 to 15. The language adopted has already caused controversy, as the amendment regarding BOT tenures apparently does not stipulate whether the five year tenure would be applied retroactively, or begin as of the date of the amendment's enactment. (NOTE: PDP leader Governor Saraki told Ambassador April 21 that the changes are effective from the date of amendment. End note.) Also unclear is whether the new language gives any member of the Board the right to call for a new election for the Chairman, or if this requires a majority of BOT members. The former would obviously make Obasanjo's hold on the position more tenuous. ¶3. (C) The reduction in the number of delegates to state congresses and the national convention was purportedly done to save money. The amendment with regard to the BOT Chairmanship reversed the controversial changes to the party constitution made in 2006 by allies of current BOT Chairman and former President Obasanjo. These had essentially guaranteed him the Chairmanship, and gave him substantial influence over the party apparatus. Post has yet to receive requested copies of the exact amendment language, and is not yet able to determine the full effect of the amendments on the powers of the BOT Chairman, though party officials claim they have been curtailed. (Note: Ambassador-Saraki meeting on the convention provides a few more details. End note.) Obasanjo did not attend, nor send the customary goodwill message. Also interestingly absent, though listed in the program as a delegate from Ebonyi state, was last year's contender for National Chairman of the party, Anyim Pius Anyim, whose candidacy was withdrawn at the last minute after a back room "consensus" deal was reached. ¶4. (SBU) According to press reports, brawls erupted in the section of the stands reserved for the Plateau State ABUJA 00000712 002 OF 002 delegation as a result of a factional dispute. Supporters of current Plateau Governor Jonah Jang reportedly clashed with factional leader Emmanuel Magi and members of his entourage, physically trying to remove Magi's credentials. There was also an altercation between members of the Lagos and Ondo delegations. Reportedly, a fight ensued when several Lagosian delegates were accosted by Ondo PDP members for having attended the inauguration of Ondo Governor Segun Mimiko (from the opposition Labour Party) after an Appeals Court nullified the election of the PDP candidate. (Note: Eagle Square is a large, spread-out area, and Mission staff did not witness any of the skirmishes, though we could tell at times that something had clearly happened in sections of the stands. End note.) ¶5. (C) COMMENT: The return of the PDP constitution to its pre-2006 version would be a major step in the Yar'Adua administration's attempt to check the influence of former President Obasanjo. We expect an intra-party fight between supporters and opponents of Obasanjo over the legal interpretation of the five-year tenure clause, namely whether or not it will be applied retroactively. The amendment to cut the number of delegates to state congresses and the national convention will likely have the effect of increasing the influence of the governors and party leadership, as it reduces the number of elected delegates to these gatherings but not the number of members of the governors' entourages who also serve as delegates, nor the number of party leaders who are automatic delegates. (Note: Post is awaiting the exact language and numbers from PDP staff, and will report septel. End note.) By far the most disheartening part of the occasion was the reception given to the famously corrupt former governor of Delta State, James Ibori, who was not only cheered by the Delta State delegation, but readily welcomed into the VIP box to shake hands with President Yar'Adua, Vice President Jonathan, Speaker of the House Dimeji Bankole, Senate President David Mark and PDP National Chairman Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, among others. End Comment. ¶6. (C) COLOR COMMENTARY: For the second straight year POL Specialist was nearly trampled by a policeman on horseback (one PolOff had the corner of his shoe run over by the large black SUV of a sitting Governor),but all managed to surf the wave of humanity which broke through the gates to Eagle Square, while successfully avoiding being struck by flailing police batons. Nobody attempted to pickpocket PolOff this year, perhaps because he left his wallet at the office. Though the BOT Chairman did not attend, he was ably represented by his friend, former Chairman of the Port Authority Bode George (who himself faced EFCC corruption charges). George apparently did not get the word from President Yar'Adua, which called for an end to the "era of the flamboyant jamboree", as he sported an over-the-top, oversized Mexican sombrero with abundant gold trim. There were, however decidedly fewer praise singers and roaming minstrels than last year, so perhaps Yar'Adua's call for a more modest event, for which he significantly cut the funding, had some effect. ¶7. (U) This cable was coordinated with Consulate Lagos. SANDERS