Nigerian Newsday

By Shehu Musa Birnin Kebbi

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Local congress in Kebbi State, produce 18 consensus candidates out of the 24 required to fill the house of Assembly slots.

Despte the concensus candidate adopted by the party, primaries still held in all the 21 local government councils, in line with PDP guidlines.

Apart from Jega were primaries was conducted behind schedule, due to let arrival of election materials, it started on schedule in other 20 local government areas.state chief retuning officer, Mr Ani Offiong Ani, said there were no reported cases of violence in any part of the state.

He said the PDP monitoring committee were satisfied with the conduct of the congress, adding that "I must commend PDP members in the state for ensuring smooth conduct of the primaries". He advised stakeholders in the state to ensure that subsequent congresses are conducted in like manners.

A PDP governorship aspirant, Alhaji Saidu Samaila Sambawa, also commended PDP members for conduting the congress without any rancour.

He said the emergence of concensus candidates showed unity among PDP members, saying the PDP is ready to over the state in 2007.

He said, "this concensus formular will be adopted in subsequent PDP primaries to give us a brighter chance of winning governorship election in 2007". Sambawa said.