The battle for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman heightened yesterday, with eight aspirants in the race.
All the aspirants are from the Northeast, a development that has foreclosed a likely concession of the office to the Southwest.
The Southwest may, however, produce the National Secretary.
Although the June 6 election of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, and his deputy, Emeka Ihedioha, changed the power sharing formula within the ruling party, the chairmanship slot has been conceded to the Northeast.
It was learnt that despite a “desperate bid” for the office by the Southwest, the party’s Board of Trustees and the National Working Committee of the party are insisting on ceding the slot to the Northeast.
Those who have emerged for the office so far are a former Ambassador to the United States, Dr. Hassan Adamu, former Governor of the defunct Gongola State, Alhaji Bamanga Muhammed Tukur; former Minister of Petroleum Prof. Jibril Aminu(Adamawa); former Minister of Commerce, Ambassador Idris Waziri(Taraba); former Minister of Agriculture Shettima Mustapha, the former National Chairman of the defunct Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM), Alhaji Gambo Lawan(Borno); former Governor Adamu Mu’azu (Bauchi) and former Governor Danjuma Goje of Gombe State who is now a senator.
It was gathered that Goje is being recommended by some party leaders, in view of what they describe as his ability to foster unity and integration within the PDP.
The campaign for the office has started, with each of the aspirants lobbying President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice-President Namadi Sambo.
A member of the NWC, who spoke in confidence, said: “”The battle for the office of the National Chairman of the PDP is on now. Whoever wins will take over from the acting National Chair, Dr. Haliru Bello Mohammed, from the Northwest. Initially, our leaders assumed that it might take a mere anointment, but we now have about eight aspirants.
“It seems that we may not be able to build a consensus as was the case in 2008. If we cannot reach a compromise, the aspirants will expectedly draw their troops from the remaining five geo-political zones.
“All the aspirants are lobbying to secure the endorsement of the President, the Vice-President, and the PDP governors who crowned the last elected National Chairman of the party in 2008, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor.
“The next chairman will be anyone whom Jonathan, Sambo and the PDP governors, who control the delegates to the National Convention, will find very comfortable to work with to refocus the party and strengthen it to tackle the critical challenges ahead.
Responding to a question, the source said: “We do not know when the National Convention of the party will hold.
“What is, however, sure is that both the acting National Chairman and National Secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, are expected to vacate their offices – in line with the new power sharing formula. The party cannot afford to produce its chairman and secretary from the North.”
But as at press time, there was division among party leaders on who to choose on account of age.
A party source said: “All the aspirants do not have any moral baggage against them. That has made the task of choosing any of them by party members easier.
“But our leaders are divided whether to give the slot to young elements or the senior aspirants.
“Tukur, Aminu, Hassan Adamu and Shettima Mustapha are in their 70s.
“As for others, their age range is as follows: Waziri (late 60s); Lawan (53); Mu’azu (Mid 50s) and Goje (59).
“The argument of most party members is that power is shifting to new generation of leaders. They cited the case of President Goodluck Jonathan who is 53 years old and within the present global leadership age range.
“A few members of the party have however argued that experienced hands are better to lead the party.”
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