PDP Chairman: Secondus, others know fate today

* As Bode George withdraws
* 87 aspirants tussle for 23 positions
* Consensus fail in S’West as S’East trade vote for VP slot
* About 2,850 delegates converge on Abuja for Convention

The National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is now characterized with anxiety as aspirants make the last move to secure maximum votes from delegates.

The usual hustle has returned to Wadata Plaza while the Eagle Square, venue of the convention, is adorned with various sizes of banner of aspirants.

But the main attraction of the National Convention is the battle for the chairmanship position of the party.
Incidentally, eight aspirants were cleared for the prestigious post – Prince Uche Secondus, Prof Tunde Adeniran, Chief Bode George, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Prof Taoheed Adedoja, Chief Rashidi Ladoja and Mr Jimi Agbaje.

But one of the contenders for the post, Bode George, surprised some stakeholders when he suddenly withdrew from the race last night without stating any reason for his last minute decision.

With this development, the coast is now clear for the remaining seven aspirants to test their popularity today.
It was further gathered that 87 aspirants will tussle for 23 positions during today’s historic national convention.

Meanwhile, the build up to the convention has been characterized with intense politicking. Candidates especially those vying for the office of the National chairman traversed the length and breath of the country, seeking endorsements from major stake holders and delegates.

Most of the hotels in Abuja are fully booked extending to the neighbouring states of Niger and Nassarawa while state governors are reportedly hiding the delegates from the reach of aspirants to prevent possible vote splitting.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye had earlier stated that about 2,800 delegates will vote during today’s national convention.

Secondus
But some influential party chieftains have argued that Secondus is very close to the North and as the former Chairman of the party, has been able to build bridges across the North.

The South East options

Until yesterday, the zone is not clear on the delegate to support for the convention hence all aspirants are hopeful to muscle some vote from the zone.

But the stakeholders from the party were said to have settled for Secondus as their preferred candidate and endorsed some candidates from the zone vying for other positions.

In a communique read by Austin Umahi, National Vice Chairman South East, the zone stated that, “In this circumstance, and without prejudice to the right of other aspirants to this national chairmanship position, credible and transparent election, we have decide to back and vote for Prince Uche Secondus for the position of national chairman (Total) of our great party.”

The zone has only three PDP governors who are also close to Secondus.
According to a source close to the zone, they are projecting for the Chairmanship position and have extracted strong commitment from him that if he finally emerges, he will work for the zone to produce the next vice Presidential aspirant.

The source also disclosed that the present Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremmadu is interested in the position and is working round the clock for the emergence of Secondus.

The South South position

The South South zone, some politicians claim, has been completely delivered to Secondus.

One of the salient points in his favour is that when he was the former Chairman of the party, he worked closely with the governors and was loyal to the party and consulted the governors on his ambition.

The zone, incidentally , has the highest number of governors, which is five as Akwa Ibom has the highest number of delegates – 140 while Rivers State has 93.

The governors from the zone who are also influential among their peers are championing the election of Secondus and are mobilizing other governors to buy into the project.

But this development is said to be working against the aspirations of Chief Raymond Dokpesi who believes that he is the candidate to beat in the election.

Dokpesi has worked his way through the party especially during his trial period but he has not been able to bring the governors to endorse his efforts.

According to some party members, Dokpesi is very influential, has an independent mind and may not be ready to compromise if the governors intend to embark on a political trade.

Some also hold that Dokpesi us not in full control of the party structure in his home state (Edo) and may not even win in his state.

The aspiration of Dokpesi, they say, may not be strong enough to cause major havoc on the vote of Secondus.

The Northern alignment.

Some of the major stakeholders from the North have urged their delegates to vote for candidates from the South West while some people went further to name Prof. Tunde Adeniran as their preferred candidate.

Adeniran campaign train enjoyed massive support from major kingmakers in the North. He has been able to galvanize some powerful stakeholders in the north to work for his emergence. He worked closely with the Arewa elders and other northern political blocks. In his campaign team are influential northerners like Prof Jerry Gana; former Kano State governor and later Education Minister, Alhaji Ibrahim Shekarau; former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu; Hajia Ina Ciroma.

Former governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, former governor of Jigawa state and 2019/Presidential hopeful, Sule Lamido are favourable disposed to his candidature.

Adeniran’s emergence, they say, will give limitless opportunity to stamp the authority of the zone when it comes to choosing the presidential aspirant which the party has zoned to the north.

South West in a test of wits.

Barring last minute permutations, the South West will be a battle ground following the inability of the six aspirants from the zone to arrive at a consensus candidate.

One of the major clog is that the only governor from the zone is working at cross purpose with the delegates and the aspirants.

There are strong speculations that Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose, the only PDP governor from the zone is interested in the position of the Vice president and as such, develops cold feet to push for a consensus candidate.

Rivers State Governor Nyeson Wike who spoke during a television programme on Thursday, said that it would not be fair for the South West to produce the next Chairman on the grounds that the zone had little stake in the party.

Wike maintained that the South West allowed themselves to be battered by the All Progressives Congress (APC), adding that most of the PDP chapters in the zone are in crises. He said that the zone makes little contribution to the centre and did not deserve the position of the party chairman.

He wondered why the party should work for the zone to produce the national chairman when they did not bring anything to the table.

According to Wike, the zone must work hard and get the party active in the zone before they can make a demand from the party.

Myke Uzendu, Abuja