Politics
2023 Presidency: Choice Of Candidate Tears PDP Leaders Apart
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors, the National Working Committee (NWC) and the Board of Trustees (BOT) are at loggerheads over the choice of the aspirant to fly the party’s presidential ticket for the 2023 general elections, Daily Trust reports.
The party had jettisoned zoning and threw the contest open.
It was gathered that while the PDP governors are rooting for one of their own to emerge as the party’s presidential candidate, the NWC and the BOT are looking outside the governors’ forum for the flagbearer.
The development is said to have pitched the various organs at each other’s throats ahead of the presidential primary, slated for May 28 and 29.
A source familiar with the matter said: “The party is working to reduce the number of aspirants before the primaries, nothing is certain for now, but the leadership does not want all the 15 aspirants to contest.
“Definitely on their own, some of the aspirants might even step down and join forces with those they feel might have a brighter chance of winning the election.
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“The main challenge now is how to zero in. The governors are rooting for one of their own to clinch the ticket of the party. But the NWC and the BOT are not in support of the governors.”
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, could not be reached for comment on the matter.
Consensus candidate possible – BOT chair
PDP Board of Trustee Chairman, Walid Jibrin, said there is a high possibility that the party’s presidential candidate may emerge through a consensus arrangement.
Jibrin stated this while briefing newsmen at the PDP secretariat in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
He said: “The NEC has made it known earlier that there will be no zoning and no consensus. But right now, there is a loophole, therefore, we need to review that earlier decision and come up with a consensus candidate.
“We have agreed unanimously to sit together to review that very seriously and come up with a suitable candidate to lead our party and wrestle power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the polls.
“We are not going to prevent any aspirant from contesting, but we have to resolve to consensus. All the aspirants from the South East, South West and the North are putting their heads together to ensure that we produce a consensus candidate.”
Southern PDP leaders consider fresh option
Meanwhile, PDP leaders in the 17 southern states have begun moves to ensure that the party’s presidential ticket is secured by an aspirant from the region or a northern aspirant with strong roots in the South, Daily Trust learnt.
The intendment of those behind this plot is to ensure that the outcome of the PDP presidential primary produces a win-win situation for the south irrespective of where the candidate comes from.
“Southern delegates may come together and choose a northern candidate who has strong roots in the South. He must be somebody who has a close affinity and filial relationship with us. He must be somebody who understands the challenges facing the South and can run a government that is based on equity, justice, and inclusiveness and knows what it is to suffer injustice or the pains of the minority.
“It is the reason why we will not support aspirants from the far north. We will rather support aspirants whose zone has not produced any of the two positions in the Presidency of Nigeria. An ideal candidate for the PDP is somebody from either the South or the northern minority.
“That means that if the South plays its card very well, it can produce a southern candidate from the North”, said a source, who is playing a key role in strategising on the new move.
Politics
Damagum to continue as PDP national chairman until August – NEC
Damagum to continue as PDP national chairman until August – NEC
National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it will revisit the leadership crisis in the party by August this year.
This therefore means the acting national chairman of the party, Ambassador Iliya Damagum, will remain in the office until the next NEC meeting in August, according to the party.
Bauchi State Governor and the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum hinted on Thursday that the party would look into the demand of the North Central for the national championship position then.
He spoke after the NEC meeting at the national headquarters of the party in Abuja.
The governor said, “You can see there was no dissension and rancour. It was planned that the party will have an implosion. PDP is more than that, we have given beyond all these. This party is a united party that is guided by experience and constitutionality.
“In the next two months, you will see a lot of activities, leadership is a responsibility, when we will have come out of our congresses, we will look at the issues of leadership. We will look at the constitution and we will do it with no rancor.”
National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, also said because of the need for reconciliation the issue of the National Chairman would be revisited in August when another NEC will be expected to take place.
He said, “Our party emphasizes the need for reconciliation and stability within the party at this time. Therefore, the issue of the National Chairman, Amb Iliya Damagum, has been deferred to the next NEC meeting, which is tentatively scheduled for August 15, 2024.”
Politics
Breaking: Saraki loyalist, Senator Rafiu Ibrahim, dies at 57
Breaking: Saraki loyalist, Senator Rafiu Ibrahim, dies at 57
A top politician, Senator Rafiu Ibrahim, has died at the a prime age of 57.
Ibrahim, an ally of former Senate President Senator Bukola Saraki, reportedly died early Wednesday morning in a hospital in Abuja.
Newstrends learnt from a family source that Ibrahim died after a brief illness.
Rafiu Ibrahim from Ojoku, Kwara State, was a member of Kwara State House of Assembly in 2009.
He was later elected in April 2011 to represent Ifelodun/Offa/Oyun Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives of Nigeria in the 7th National Assembly.
Ibrahim became a senator in 2015 when he was elected to represent Kwara South Senatorial District.
He however lost his re-election bid into the 9th National Assembly to Lola Ashiru of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the 2019 general elections.
Politics
PDP: 60 Reps stop Wike group from endorsing Damagun
PDP: 60 Reps stop Wike group from endorsing Damagun
The lingering leadership crisis of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a new dimension on Tuesday as members of the G60 in the House of Representatives led by Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere truncated plans by lawmakers loyal to the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, to endorse Mr Umar Damagun as substantive National Chairman of the party.
Trouble started during the closed meeting convened by the Minority Leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda when Hon. Ugochinyere challenged the Caucus Leader’s presentation.
Hon. Ugochinyere, who flared up during the meeting was seen being persuaded by some PDP lawmakers.
However, before the end of the meeting, members of the G60 group left the hall, thereby leaving about 40 lawmakers in the hall where the press briefing took place.
While speaking on the outcome of the closed-door meeting which lasted for over 3 hours, Hon. Chinda said: “We have just concluded the third meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party Caucus of the 10th Assembly and we have resolved firstly to tell all of us and the world that the PDP Caucus in the House of Representatives remain united, indivisible committed and out to perform our duty as the watchdog on behalf of Nigerian people.
“In the same vein, we x-rayed the security situation in our country and we resolved that we can no longer take this situation where Nigerian is almost tagged as ‘one life, one minute silence’.
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“The government is therefore called upon to immediately take steps to ensure that the security situation in the country is normalized.
“And the Caucus has also given a three-month ultimatum for government to normalize the security situation in our country. After three months, the Caucus will take further steps to sensitize and mobilize Nigerians to perhaps take their security into their hands.
“The House of Representatives Caucus also agreed to call on all Party Caucuses, the Board of Trustees, National Executive Committee and the National Working Committee of the party to embark on reconciliatory measures with a view to resolving all litigations that are pending and have hindered the party in any way whatsoever from having a substantive National Chairman.
“We call on our leaders, leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party to continue to demonstrate unconditional loyalty to the party and ensure that the party is moved to her pride of place where she enjoyed the position of the largest party in Africa and to take back the Aso Villa which is actually supposed to be our birthright.
“And so for us, we are going back as we resume the session to commence a strong, virile and purpose-driven opposition to give the people a voice in the Parliament,” he said.
While reacting to the recent suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi, the Minority Leader urged the Senate leadership “to recall our colleague, our senior brother, a veteran politician, a Parliamentarian per excellence, Abdul Ningi.”
Meanwhile, one of the G60 members who gave insight into the discussions during the closed-door meeting confirmed that the hard stance of the group frustrates the grand plan to pass a vote of confidence on the embattled acting PDP National Chairman.
“Our position remains that Damagun must go for someone from North-central to take over and complete Ayu’s tenure.
“Our Party needs total overhaul and reformation. We currently have in the PDP a national leadership that is in bed with the APC and is working extremely hard to hand over the party to the APC.
“This is quite shameful and disheartening. But we won’t fold our hands and let that happen.
“We are aside other demands insisting on 100 percent formation of Caretaker PDP executive list at all levels without any tampering or inclusion of new names outside the earlier resolution that members of the expiring excos should act as Caretaker for 3 months pending the conduct of substantive election.
“Our party will not be overtaken by APC, we are here to serve the Nigerian people not to the whims and caprices of some selfish politicians,” he noted.
PDP: 60 Reps stop Wike group from endorsing Damagun
(Nigerian Tribune)
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