PDP National chairmanship: The danger in imposition

As the December 9, 2017, date for the National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) draws nearer, other positions lined up for contention have not been receiving much attention as the race for the National Chairmanship post, believed to be the soul of the party.

Not only will the free and fair conduct of the convention or its otherwise determine the chances of the party regaining power lost in the 2015 general elections, if not at the centre but in some states, it will by extension determine also the ability of the leadership of the party to mend the ‘torn umbrella’.

To achieve this, political onlookers are of the opinion that PDP must avoid the imposition of candidates, a ‘banana peel’ which the party has so much penchant for.

The party used to command a huge respect for internal democracy through the implementation of its zoning formula, until it allowed it to be dubiously replaced with favouritism or better known as the imposition of candidates against the wish of the generality of party members.

The forthcoming convention, no doubt will be a litmus test of the genuineness of the party to wrestle power from the All Progressives Congress (APC), the incumbent ruling party.

While the Port-Harcourt mini-convention of the party endorsed a blanket zoning of the national chairmanship position to the South and the presidency to the North, another arrangement of a micro-zoning was put to the fore which set to limit the chairmanship race to contenders in the South-West.

This today, is evident in the number of aspirants from the South West geo-political zone jostling for the plum job.

The list include; former governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel, former Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, former Oyo State governor, Rasheed Ladoja and former PDP Lagos State governorship candidate, Jimi Agbaje, former Minister of Education, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, and former PDP Deputy National chairman, Bode George.

The odd ones in the race are immediate past Deputy National chairman of the party, Uche Secondus from Rivers State and Daar Communications chairman, Dr. Raymond Dokpesi.

But the National Caretaker Committee sticks to its gun and abide by the loose formula. Its Chairman, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, recently, stated that the NWC has no power to ‘micro-zone’ elective positions.

Rather, he said that all eight candidates could contest for the office of chairman as the national convention of the party agreed to zone the national chairmanship to the South.

Also, standing by the position to give all contenders equal chances, the National Assembly Caucus of the party decided to screen all of them as part of its responsibility to be involved in the decision process.

Deputy Leader of the PDP Caucus in the House of Representatives, Hon. Chukwuma Onyema said having concluded its assignment, the House Caucus will consult its Senate counterpart and will further compare notes with other organs of the party to ensure, a fair, free and equitable process.

Few weeks to the convention, there have been counter allegations of open support for certain candidates by certain organs of the party, which could lead to an imminent crisis that may send the party to the dungeon of Nigeria’s political annals.

While certain members in the Board of Trustees were said to be rooting for an experienced party loyalist in the person of Bode George who is believed to have what it would take to rebuild the PDP and to put it in a position to win the 2019 elections,

he on the other hand seem not to be enjoying the support of the group of PDP governors whose role in the emergence of national leadership of the party cannot be ignored.

Prof. Tunde Adeniran, one of the founding fathers of PDP, who no doubt boasts a good knowledge of the workings of the party is believed to be well-connected to all the power blocks in the party,

and said to be banking on the support of the BOT having served as the chairman of the sub-committee of the party on strategy during the effort to resolve the leadership crisis in the party.

Former Governor Gbenga Daniel, also adjudged one of the committed party loyalists whose efforts to rebuild the party and to reconcile disputes amongst its ranks was acknowledged across board is said to wields considerable influence among former governors of the party.

Both Jimi Agbaje and Prof. Taoheed Adedoja have no serious link with any of the power broking organs in the party, and as well may be said not to be in serious contention, while the former governor of Oyo State, Rasheed Ladoja from the look of things may throw in the towel in support of Daniel.

However, the failure of the leadership of the party in the South West to have a common front has been festering the political nest of the former Deputy National Chairman, Uche Secondus, whose aspiration is gaining acceptance across party divides.

There have been allegation in the camps of some contenders that a powerful clique within the party has been working round the clock to lure the leadership of the party into throwing full weight behind Secondus’ aspiration, putting the party on the brink of another accusation of ‘imposition’ of candidate.

But in a swift reaction to the claim that Secondus might be imposed on the party, his campaign organisation said his opponents are behind such rumour because they are being intimidated by his wide acceptance across other regions, including the South West.

Taye Garrich on behalf of the Uche Secondus Campaign Organisation said his principal has the right to contest the position, having come from the South, a region where the chairmanship position has been zoned.

Refuting the allegation, he said rather than waiting for an endorsement from any quarters, Secondus has been selling his candidature across the 36 states of the federation, meeting with party leaders and members to offer his service to rebuild the party and reposition it for elective contests in 2019 general elections.

He said recently, a group under the aegis of Northern Integrity Watch said that Secondus has the highest appeal among the contestants for the Peoples Democratic Party chairmanship position, because he has what it takes to move the party to the next level, adding that his role as the former PDP Deputy National Chairman shows that he’s a party builder.

Garrick quoted Alhaji Ahmed Saliu, the Coordinator of the group as saying “At this time of the life of PDP, the party needs a man with experience, the man who can take the party to the next level, Secondus has this experience.

He added that a chieftain of the party in Osun State, Hakeem Ogunsola, recently urged members in the South West zone to support the party’s former deputy national chairman and ex-acting national chairman, for the national chairmanship position.

He was quoted to have said that “it was imperative for South West to queue behind Secondus, who is from the South South zone because it seemed the South West was not ready for the position, and that the party could not afford to gamble with the next general elections.”

He stated that the group has affirmed that South West has proved its unpreparedness for the leadership of the party and the leadership should go to South-South, the main base of the PDP.

Whatever is the strength or weakness of any of the contenders should be left for delegates to the national convention to decide while the party leadership plays the role of an unbiased umpire.

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While certain members in the Board of Trustees were said to be rooting for an experienced party loyalist in the person of Bode George who is believed to have what it would take to rebuild the PDP and to put it in a position to win the 2019 elections, he on the other hand seem not to be enjoying the support of the group of PDP governors whose role in the emergence of national leadership of the party cannot be ignored.