P.D.P.

People's Democratic Party
Chairman Bamanga Tukur
Secretary-GeneralAlhajiAbubakar Kawu Baraje
Founded1998
HeadquartersWadata Plaza, Michael Okpara Way,Wuse Zone 5, Abuja
Ideology Economic liberalism,
Social conservatism
ColoursGreen, white, red
Seats in the Senate
72 / 109
Seats in the House
205 / 360
Governorships
23 / 36
Website
peoplesdemocraticparty.net
Politics of Nigeria
Political parties
Elections
ThePeople's Democratic Partyis a political partyin Nigeria. Its policies generally lie towards the right wingof the political  spectrum. It has won every Presidential election since 1999, and is the dominant party in the Fourth Republicamidst controversial circumstances.
History
Presidential and Vice Presidential Nominees
PresidentVice PresidentElectionOutcome
Goodluck Jonathan Namadi Sambo 2011Won
Umaru Yar'Adua Goodluck Jonathan 2007Won
Olusegun Obasanjo Atiku Abubakar 2003Won
Olusegun Obasanjo Atiku Abubakar 1999Won
In the legislative electionheld on 12 April 2003, the party won 54.5% of the popular vote and 223 out of 360 seats in the House of Representatives, and 76 out of 109 seats in the Senate. Its candidate in the presidential election of 19 April 2003, Olusegun Obasanjo, was re-elected with 61.9% of the vote.
In December 2006 Umaru  Yar'Aduawas chosen as the presidential candidate of the ruling PDP for the April 2007  general election, receiving 3,024 votes from party delegates; his closest rival, Rochas Okorocha, received only 372 votes. [ 1 ]Yar'Adua was eventually declared the winner of the 2007 general elections, held on April 21, and was sworn in on May 29, 2007, amid widespread allegations of electoral fraud. In the Nigerian  National Assemblyelection, the party won 260 out of 360 seats in the House of Representativesand 85 out of 109 seats in the Senate.
At the PDP's 2008 National Convention, it chosePrince Vincent Ogbulaforas its National Chairman on March 8, 2008. [ 2 ] [ 3 ]Ogbulafor, who was the PDP's National Secretary from 2001 to 2005, was the party's consensus choice for the position of National Chairman, selected as an alternative to the rival leading candidates Sam Egwu(who was backed by Obasanjo) and Anyim  Pius Anyim. All 26 other candidates, including Egwu and Anyim, withdrew in favor of Ogbulafor. Meanwhile,Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Barajewas elected as National Secretary. [ 3 ]
However, in recent weeks, wave of mass defection has hit the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) across Nigeria, with many aggrieved members decamping mostly to the Action Congress of  Nigeria(ACN). The aggrieved members who are moving with their supporters will no doubt, boost the chances of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the presumptive Presidential flag bearer of the Action Congress of Nigeria(ACN) ahead the 2011 general elections in Nigeria.
In 2011, after the People's Democratic Party saw members defect for the Action Congress of  Nigeria, some political commentators suspected that the PDP would lose the Presidency. [ 4 ] [ 5 ]Following PDP nomination Goodluck Jonathan's victory in the 2011 elections, it was reported that there were violent protests from northern youth. [ 6 ] ↑Jump back a section
Political ideology
The party has a neoliberalstance in its economic policies and maintains a conservativestance on certain social issues, such as same sexrelations.
Economic issues
The PDP favors free-marketpolicies which support economic  liberalism, and limited government regulation. In 2003, President Olusegun Obasanjoand Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo- Iwealaembarked on a radical economic reform program, which reduced government spending through conservative fiscalpolicies, and saw the deregulationand privatizationof numerous industries in Nigerian services sector — notably the Nigerian  Telecommunications (NITEL)industry. [ 7 ]
On the other hand, the PDP adopts a more leftist stance towards poverty and welfare. In 2005, President Obasanjo launched Nigeria's first National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to ensure that every Nigerian has access to basic health care services. [ 8 ]
The PDP strives to maintain the status quo on oil revenue distribution. Though the PDP government setup the Niger Delta  Development Commission(NDDC) to address the needs of the oil-producing Niger Delta states, it has rebuffed repeated efforts to revert to the 50% to 50% federal-to-state government revenue allocation agreement established in 1966 during the First Republic. [ 9 ]