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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Northeast Caucus of the Governors Forum is split over the choice of the party’s National Chairman.
The battle for the seat has pitched governors against party leaders.
The battle for the seat has pitched governors against party leaders.
Governors Danbaba Suntai (Taraba), Ibrahim Dankwanbo (Gombe), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi) and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) are said to be consulting governors in the other five zones for support.
The National Conventiaon of the PDP will hold on March 24 to elect a chairman.
Some of the aspirants are former Governor of the now defunct Gongola State Bamanga Muhammed Tukur; PDP National Publicity Secretary Prof. Rufai Alkali; former Minister of Commerce Idris Waziri (Taraba); former Minister of Agriculture Shettima Mustapha; PDP National Secretary Musa Babayo; former Minister of Agriculture Adamu Bello; former National Chairman of the defunct The Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM) Gambo Lawan(Borno) and former Bauchi Governor Adamu Mu’azu.
Some of the aspirants are former Governor of the now defunct Gongola State Bamanga Muhammed Tukur; PDP National Publicity Secretary Prof. Rufai Alkali; former Minister of Commerce Idris Waziri (Taraba); former Minister of Agriculture Shettima Mustapha; PDP National Secretary Musa Babayo; former Minister of Agriculture Adamu Bello; former National Chairman of the defunct The Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM) Gambo Lawan(Borno) and former Bauchi Governor Adamu Mu’azu.
Also in the race are a former Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Abba Aji, a former Minister of FCT, Bunu Sheriff and a lawyer, Ibrahim Birma.
In the last one month, it has been difficult for the PDP governors in the Northeast to reach consensus on one of the aspirants.
Following the stalemate, the governors have separately started wooing their colleagues in the rest five geo-political zones for support for their favourites.
Following the stalemate, the governors have separately started wooing their colleagues in the rest five geo-political zones for support for their favourites.
While the Governor of Taraba State is backing Amb. Waziri, Yuguda appears to be more comfortable with Babayo than his (Yuguda’s) predecessor, Mu’azu.
Governor Ibrahim Dankwanbo of Gombe State is supporting Alkali. Adamawa State Governor Murtala Nyako is not sure whether to back Tukur or allow the state to retain the slot of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, which it is presently occupying.
It was also learnt that former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who was supporting Birma, may have tactically withdrawn in the spirit of reconciliation to back Tukur because of his 2015 presidential ambition.
It was also learnt that former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who was supporting Birma, may have tactically withdrawn in the spirit of reconciliation to back Tukur because of his 2015 presidential ambition.
A source, who pleaded not to be named, said: “The governors are split over who to back every governor has his own candidate and this has made it difficult for the zone to endorse a candidate.
“For instance, the Taraba State governor, who said his state is disadvantaged, was the first to seek support for his candidate at a session of the PDP Governors Forum. In fact, after the session, a Northcentral governor bought into Suntai’s project and started rendering. But Taraba State was shocked when other governors began to show interest in the seat.
“So, the centre in the Northeast is not holding as expected. When naturally they should have looked forward to either Borno or Yobe states for the next chairman, the Boko Haram menace has been a major challenge in selling good candidates, like Gambo Lawan and others.
“The governors from the zone are presently reaching out individually to their colleagues in other zones for support for their candidates.”
It was learnt that two of the governors have been shuttling Southsouth and Southwest to canvass support for their candidates.
Responding to a question, another source said: “A natural leader in the zone that could assist to solve the impasse on consensus is ex-Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
It was learnt that two of the governors have been shuttling Southsouth and Southwest to canvass support for their candidates.
Responding to a question, another source said: “A natural leader in the zone that could assist to solve the impasse on consensus is ex-Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
“But the former VP has stayed away from the murky politics because of his 2015 presidential ambition. We can all understand his game plan because if any candidate he opposes is eventually made the national chairman, that will be the end of his presidential ambition.”
On Nyako, the source said: “Adamawa State has to choose between PDP national chairman and the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation being occupied by a citizen of the state, Isa Bello Sali.
On Nyako, the source said: “Adamawa State has to choose between PDP national chairman and the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation being occupied by a citizen of the state, Isa Bello Sali.
“This is a dilemma for Nyako who got re-election support from Bamanga Tukur and Sali.”
As at press time, there were fears among the aspirants that the Presidency may bow to pressure to anoint a candidate.
Although party leaders are reading the lips of President Goodluck Jonathan, there were strong indications last night that a former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, may co-ordinate lobbying for the Presidency’s anointed candidate.
As at press time, there were fears among the aspirants that the Presidency may bow to pressure to anoint a candidate.
Although party leaders are reading the lips of President Goodluck Jonathan, there were strong indications last night that a former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, may co-ordinate lobbying for the Presidency’s anointed candidate.
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