Crisis brews in PDP over choice of chairman

Dr Jonathan

 

Some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are pushing for a consensus national chairman – to stave off a rancorous voting at the convention. 

But most of the 11 aspirants prefer a direct ballot battle at the National Convention, which was yesterday fixed for March 24. 

They have vowed to reject “a family affair method”, which has led to the emergence of three national chairmen since 2008. 

Some of the  aspirants are:  Former Governor of the now defunct Gongola State Bamanga Muhammed Tukur; National Publicity Secretary Prof. Rufai Alkali;  former Minister of Commerce Idris Waziri (Taraba); former Minister of Agriculture Shettima Mustapha;  National Secretary Musa Babayo; former Minister of Agriculture Adamu Bello; former National Chairman of the defunct Grassroots Democratic Movement, (GDM) Gambo Lawan (Borno); former Governor Adamu Mu’azu of Bauchi State; and  former Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters Abba Aji. 

Former Minister of FCT Bunu Sheriff and Ibrahim Birma, a lawyer, among others, are also in the race.

Some members of the Board of Trustees are pushing for a consensus national chairman. 

It was gathered that the elders are looking for a candidate who could serve as a rallying point for the party to reconcile all members and win the 2015 poll. 

In fact, the elders are trying to prevail on the Presidency to adopt a former Minister as a consensus candidate ahead of the convention.

But most of the aspirants are insisting that they want voting. 

It was gathered that some of those being prevailed upon have defied the elders to open their campaign secretariats. 

The defiant aspirants are said to be enjoying the backing of some 2015 presidential aspirants. 

A source, who confided in our correspondent, said: “The elders have zeroed in on a particular aspirants in line with the tradition of the party. 

“If you can recall very well, the only time we have elected a national chairman was in 1999 when the late Super Permanent Secretary, Chief S.B. Awoniyi, slugged it out with Senator Barnabas Gemade. And with the backing of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, Senator Gemade won. 

“That 1999 election, however, left the party so divided to the extent that we have not recovered from it till today. Our preparation for 2015 begins with the right National Working Committee. We cannot afford to falter, we must get it right. 

“The elders are forward looking but some of the aspirants prefer outright ballot process. All I can tell you is that the consensus process has been initiated.” 

Asked if the party’s constitution supports emergence of a consensus candidate, the source said Article 12.87(q) and (r) empowers the National Convention to “exercise such other powers and authority not inconsistent with the provisions of this constitution as shall aid or facilitate the realisation of the objectives of the party.” 

Five of the 11 aspirants, who were contacted by our correspondent, kicked against consensus.

One of them, who pleaded not to be named, said “Some of us have been approached by some elders to forget about the race for a man they think can do it, but we have said no. 

“As for me, I won’t chicken out; I prefer to lose flatly. Why should the party follow this path again? I think they said we are reforming, then we should reform democratically. 

Another aspirant added: “I believe it is always better and democratic, if we allow all the aspirants to seek the members’ mandate. 

“We have had enough of this family affair method which has left the party more divided in the last four years. The same method led to the imposition of chairmen, like Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, Mr Audu Ogbeh, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo and others who were later sacrificed by the powers that be.”

The third aspirant said: “I think it is too early to talk of the direction the party elders are going. You know in PDP, the game can change 24 hours to the national convention. 

“These elders may be proposing; the intrigues may force the party to tread a different path. I think we have three weeks to go.” 

Another aspirant said: “I have not been contacted by anyone, but I have a ready made answer not to accept such a deal at all. I am not in the race to negotiate.” 

The fifth aspirant merely said: “That will be too bad; we want to lose at the convention not through the back door.”

State Security Service (SSS) officials yesterday stopped Senator Ali Ndume (PDP, Borno) from attending the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting. 

  President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President, Namadi Sambo, Senate President David Mark, Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, Senator Smart Adeyemi, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, Senator Wilson Ake, Senator Hosea Agboola were at the meeting. 

Ndume, who was linked to the deadly Boko Haram sect, was arrested on November 22, last year and charged to court as an alleged sponsor of the group. 

Ndume, who arrived at the PDP National Secretariat around 1.46 p.m after the closed-door NEC meeting had started, through was turned back at the gate, which was manned by SSS officials.

They told him his name was not on the list of invitees. 

Bayelsa State Governor, Henry Dickson, who arrived around 2.10p.m, and other members of the NEC who came after the meeting had started, were allowed in by the SSS officials at the three check points leading to the venue.       

The NEC approved zoning of the offices for the NWC. It also set up a committee to have a second look at the report of its Constitution Review Committee. 

Reading the resolutions at the end of the 59th meeting, the National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Ahmed Rufai Alkali, said: “NEC passed a special resolution commending the National Working Committee for successfully piloting the affairs of the Party even in turbulent times within the last four years.” 

“As a prelude to the smooth conduct of the forthcoming National Convention and in line with the provisions of the PDP Constitution, NEC approved the zoning of offices for the National Working Committee as follows: North East Zone - National Chairman, South South Zone - Deputy National Chairman and National Financial Secretary, South West Zone - National Secretary and National Auditor, South East Zone - National Publicity Secretary, Deputy National Secretary and National Woman Leader, North West Zone - National Organising Secretary and National Treasurer, North Central Zone National Legal Adviser and National Youth Leader.” 

On the amendment of the party’s constitution, Alkali said: “NEC also received a proposal for the amendment of the PDP Constitution. NEC commended the Constitution Review Committee for a job well done and referred the report to a Special Committee comprising the President, the Vice President, governors, six members of the National Assembly, three former chairmen of the party, former chairmen of the Board of Trustees and six members of the National Working Committee.”

“The Committee shall examine the Constitutional Amendment proposal and present a roadmap for the way forward.”

Speaking at the beginning of the meeting, President Goodluck Jonathan urged party members to remain united even as the congresses and national convention of the party will hold from 3rd to 24th of this month. 

He said: “What holds us together is unity. As a party, we have to unite and that is what has made us a strong party. Here, we disagree to agree and that makes us stronger.” 

The outgoing Acting National Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Baraje, noting that the NEC will be the last in his tenure, thanked the party members for the opportunity he got to serve.

According to him, the party witnessed improved internal democracy, successful conduct of the 2011 general election, improved working relationship between the executive and the legislature under his tenure.