THISDAYonline

The much-talkedabout Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential primaries is finally over. Away from all the shoddy issues that the Second RepublicVice President Dr Alex Ekweme raised, did you notice how the convention turned out to be a trend-spotting field? Without any doubt, the party has distinguished itself for not only being a ruling party but a stylish one. Oh yes, they understand all the know-how's about power dressing.

Which is why they always come fully armed at every gathering.

You can't help but notice the rainbow of colours and the manner in which the members wheel their success as the biggest party in Africa in the various outfits they usually wear at every meeting.

When it's the gathering of their South-south governors, the tendency is to wear the indigenous attire of the state hosting the meeting. A particular style of dressing usually dominates the theme, it's always a uniform affair.

But, this time the coalition was different from the usual quarterly governors meeting.

In this case, no state was playing host. They were meeting on a level playing ground. The nations capital Abuja was the host for the day. There was no need for the usual uniform look it was time to dress as you dare or as you wish to be addressed.

You have heard all the pep talk about dressing for success.Haven't you? And how the way you dress has an immense impact on the impression you want to create. Is it any wonder the choice of dressing the PDP chairman chief Audu Ogbeh chose? Not one given to flamboyance, but, not wanting to be lost in the crowd either, Ogbeh jazzed up his flowing agabada with the vibrant colours of the party. "I am indeed loyal and in charge" his attach‚ seems to say.

The delegates came with different forms of dressing. Different hats were spotted to symbolise their different backgrounds. Those from the West were well represent, wearing their indigenous attire with their typical Gobi caps.

The Southern delegates proudly displayed the Panama hat, which has come to symbolise their struggle for resource control. While the Northern counter parts wore their hand woven Fula caps.

The otherwise tensed atmosphere became a carnival of colours. By every measure you could term it a contest of some sorts. They displayed the latest crop of Senegalese caftans and trendy female wrappers. For the Delta state governor, James Ibori, it was time to be rugged. We spotted him dressed casually in denim, looking nothing like his contemporaries. Senator Liyel Imoke, special Adviser on Utilities was not up for flamboyance either, he dressed casually in a spotted shirt. The women were also vesartile in their dressing. Aviation Minister Kema Chikwe was in her elements graciously dressed in light gold, hailing the PDP woman leader

Even the presidential aspirants were not left out of the splurge of colours show;

Dr Alex Ekweme always one to look conservative, well you really can't expect much trend from a 70 year old guy right. But, he did look regal in his red cap and white flowing gown.

Abubakar Rimi- With his good looks and penchant for the Senegalese brocade. Rimi looked so cool. But, as the first civilian governor of Akwa Ibom State Obong Akpan Isemin once pointed out, "election is not a beauty contest." If only it was. Rimi was the best looking Presidentisl aspirant and the most stylish of caus, notice his clean shaven looks and the matching handcrafted cap to go with his sleek senegalese caftan. Hmm! very impressive. Barnabas Gemade, the erstwhile chairman of the party. O well he probably should have stuck to his indigenous attire. His dressing looked too busy.

Indeed, these side attractions were also as interesting as the main objective of the gathering, which was to nominate the presidential flagbearer for the April 19 presidential elections.