Baraje Takes Over As PDP National Chairman.

NATIONAL Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje yesterday formally took over as the acting National Chairman of the party pending the ratification of the position by the party's National Executive Committee (NEC).

His assumption of the PDP leadership followed the swearing-in of  former acting National Chairman Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed as the Minister of Defence.

Former National Auditor of the party Dr Samuel Ortom, who is now the Minister for State for Trade and Investment, also vacated his office as a national officer.

The Deputy National Secretary, Dr Musa Babayo will take Baraje's place in an acting capacity pending the ratification by NEC.

Baraje, who spoke after  he received the handing over notes from Mohammed, vowed to continue with the on-going reforms aimed at repositioning the party.

He said: "I promise that on behalf of the remaining members of the NWC, we shall be putting on the uniform of transformation and at the end of the day, you will be proud that party is formidable. We promise that the decisions at some levels in this party will be taken at the various hierarchies and decision making organs for ratification. We promise you that the due process which you are leaving behind will equally be built upon."

Mohammed in his remark noted that it was the first time a chairman of the party is handing over in "cordiality" to his successor since the formation of PDP .

He described it as confirmation that the party has grown and its leadership stabilised.