‘Strong men’ behind PDP chairmanship contenders
The convention is expected to produce new National Working Committee (NWC) members who will take over from the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee
All eyes are on the PDP contenders, delegates , party members, including other interest groups, who have been entangled in serious politicking ahead of the convention. Specifically, contenders for the position of PDP national chairman from the South have gained prominence because of their vigorous campaigns, considering the fact that the seat has been zoned to the region.
What is left hidden, is which of the zones, including the South West, South South and South East should produce the national chairman. This remains the most intriguing aspect of the scheming. Campaigns have gone far as all aspirants leading their teams to key stakeholders to seek recognition. Power brokers like former President Goodluck Jonathan and former military head of state Ibrahim Babangida are the frontline stakeholders being approached by all the contenders.
Some aspirants have also contacted former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who served on the party’s platform for eight years, but surreptitiously tore his PDP membership card in dramatic fashion prior to the 2015 general elections.
Jonathan has admitted that this is the toughest chairmanship contest since the PDP was instituted in 1998, but said it is a healthy development for Nigeria’s democracy and the party. The convention is expected to produce new National Working Committee (NWC) members who will take over from the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee.
Daily Trust reliably gathered that consultations were still ongoing among party leaders on whose shoulders the hefty job will rest on. Agitation is raging in the South West concerning the political calculations within the party, which allegedly does not favour the region. Party leaders and stakeholders are insisting that the region should be allowed the opportunity to produce the next national chairman on grounds that it has never been given such mandate since 1998 when the party was created. Some northern leaders have also lent their voices in support of the agitation, arguing that if the pendulum does not swing in favour of the South West this time around, it would be a disservice.
At the PDP Northern Leaders meeting in Abuja, recently, a former national chairman of the party, Chief Ahmadu Ali said, “Its either the party gives it to the South West or forget it.”
Former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, also reechoed the call at the official declaration of a former governor of Ogun State, Otumba Gbenga Daniel that the South West has “massive voting power” and should be recognized this time around, if the party really wants to do away with impunity.
But insider sources said despite their desire to fill the position of chairman, the South West zone is also eyeing the vice presidential slot of the party ahead of the 2019 general elections.
A line-up of the contenders goes:
The atmosphere in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is now charged, with party chieftains jostling and scheming ahead of the December National Convention where the national chairman and other leaders would emerge. But who are those party bigwigs who are pulling the strings?
Campaign in 2015. As a foundation member of the party, Adeniran was Chairman, PDP Presidential Inauguration Committee (1999); and Chairman, Electoral Panel, PDP National Convention (1999).
Daily Trust reports that the South Westborn Professor of Political Science has the backing of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Ex-Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana and former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu. He also has the nod of a former minister of Police Affairs, Adamu Maina Waziri; former minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Zainab Maina; former governorship aspirant in Adamawa State, Dr. Umar Ardo; former minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Inna Maryam Ciroma; Senator Ugochukwu Ubah; ex-Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, Senator Saidu Kumo; Ambassador Esther Audu; Obi Nwosu; Hon. Dennis Emmanuel; Senator Umar Gada; Hon. Austine Nwachukwu; Ambassador Gregory Okon, among many others.
It was also gathered that some serving and former governors of the party, as well as some delegates are backing the ex-minister.
Credible sources within the party said Adeniran is a frontline contestant and that if the current equation did not change, he is likely to clinch the seat, also because of his endorsement by Jonathan.
Jonathan said Thursday, when Adeniran took his campaign team to his office in Abuja, that “As an opposition party, we must have a bridge-builder, someone who has a listening ear and can build the party. We don’t need the kind of chairman that will only be taking wine or champagne.”
Declaring public his intention to contest the office recently at Yar’adua Centre, Abuja, Prof. Adeniran said a transparent and credible convention would guarantee the survival of the party for years to come.
Adeniran said that it would be “uncharitable and a despicable fallacy” for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to rubbish the achievements of the PDP administration in 16 years, especially when one considered the massive challenges the PDP inherited from long years of military rule. “We are all witnesses to the near-death experience brought about by the leadership crisis spanning about 23 months which, fortunately, the party survived through divine providence. Now is the time for a new beginning for our great party. We must reconcile, we must unite, we must rebuild and we must reposition to face the challenges that lie ahead. These are indeed the imperatives before us as a party. As such, it is essential and I have confidence in the present leadership of the party, ably led by the highly experienced Senator Ahmed Makarfi to conduct a credible and transparent national convention,” he said.
Senator Mantu who had been working with Adeniran during the intense leadership crisis that nearly consumed the party, also threw his weight behind the Professor, but was quick to point out that the last time the PDP had a fair convention was in 2013, apparently expressing fear of what power brokers would do at the convention.