PDP Convention: Northern elders, youths split over chairmanship position

As the countdown to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national convention slated for December 9 draws closer, the Northern elders and youths in the party have expressed divergent views over the endorsement of aspirants from the South-West by some elders of the zone.

A group of Northern elders had at a caucus meeting on Friday in Abuja, resolved to throw their support behind the South-West zone for the Chairmanship position.

But hours later, another group under the aegis of “Concerned Northern Youths of PFP like minds” who were part of the earlier meeting, said that the North has no powers to micro zone a position the party had already zoned to the South, adding that the matter was never agreed during the meeting and as such cannot be part of the communiqué.

The group, led by Hon. Sani Idris Kutigi from Niger State and Mohammed Imam, stressed that the North lacks powers to micro-zone the chairmanship position for the south, saying that if the trend is not checked, then the South will also micro-zone for the North the position of the president which the party has thrown to the North.

In a press conference on Friday in Abuja, the Northern youths faulted the elders for meddling into the affairs of another zone, insisting that the South should be allowed to zone the way it pleases them and aspirants should be prepared to test their popularity at the convention if they are unable to reach a consensus.

Addressing journalists, the group said, ‘Various groups and contending interests are jostling for vantage positions ahead of the National Convention of the PDP coming up on December 9, 2017.

“The latest most obnoxious and objectionable plot is by some party Members from the North who have purportedly micro-zoned the National Chairmanship of the Party to the South West in a bid to accord undue advantage to a preferred aspirant.

“Their action is hereby rejected and totally condemned. Majority of members from the North dissociate themselves from this misadventure which patents unintended consequences if left unchallenged.

“It is a slap on the face and an insult on the face of Southern Nigerian Politicians/Leaders that few Members from the North can sit down and determine ‘who to elect”.

In their meeting earlier in the day, the Northern elders, led by Prof Jerry Ghana had moved for the micro zoning of the position to the South-West.

A source close to the group claimed that the elders are working for Prof. Tunde Adeniran and are doing everything possible to turn the table to his favour.

The elders in a communique signed by former Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau and Hon. Margaret Icheen, former Speaker, Benue State House of Assembly, Hon Margaret Icheen, said, “As we head to the national convention, the forum showed keen interest on the position of the National Chairman. After extensive deliberations, it was resolved that, in the spirit of fairness, equity, carrying every part of the country along, giving every geo-political zone a sense of participation and inclusion in the affairs of the PDP, we strongly support the quest of the South-West geo-political zone to produce the next National Chairman of the party.

“In line with our resolve to rebuild and reposition the PDP, we urge delegates from all the Northern States to abide by this decision and vote for only aspirants from the South-West geo-political zone in the forthcoming national convention, in the best interest of the party. This is without prejudice to the right of aspirants from other geo-political zones to contest”.

Also at the meeting were former PDP Chairman, Senator Ahmodu Ali, former Acting Adamawa state governor Ahmadu Umar Fintiri and many other party chieftains.

Myke Uzendu, Abuja.