Delegates from no fewer than six states have not made themselves available for accreditation in the ongoing 2018 special national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
This is as the 12 presidential aspirants as well as their agents have not arrived the Adokiyw Amesiamaka Sports Complex, Igwurita-Ali, Rivers State, despite repeated calls on them by the Convention Planning Committed.
The states that were yet to show up for accreditation, which was scheduled to commence by 7:00am, include, Imo, Nasarawa, Taraba, Katsina, Lagos and Yobe states.
TRACK NEWS observed that the refusal of the delegates to present themselves for accreditation may not be unconnected with the ongoing closed door meeting of all the aspirants.
It was further observed that as at 4:00pm, delegates from most of the affected states were still in their various hotels with no sign of leaving for the convention venue.
The aspirants, who are attending the closed door meeting at Government House, Port Harcourt, include Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki; former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar; Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and former Senate President, Senator David Mark.
Others are former Kano State Governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido; Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo and former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Turaki.
Also at the meeting are former Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa; founder of Baze University, Abuja, Datti Baba-Ahmed; former Kaduna State Governor, Senator Ahmed Makarfi and former Plateau State Governor, Senator Jonah Jang.
One of the presidential aspirants, Tambuwal had on Friday alleged a gang-up against him by other presidential aspirants due to his intimidating credentials.
Speaking through the Director-General of Tambuwal Campaign Organization, Dr. Mike Omere, he said: “The others are up against our candidate because he is the most qualified. There are candidates and there are candidates.
“Our candidate has the credential of being one of the very few that have served in public office and is yet to be invited by any of the investigative agencies for talks.
“Our candidate us young and appeals to the leaders of the moment because that is the direction the world is going.
“Our candidate is the one who believes that the future of our country is now and we should begin to create the space for people to begin to achieve their destinies. Our candidate believes that we have passed that stage of potentials.
