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As the race for the chairmanship of the post-Bamanga Tukur Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gets hotter, various caucuses of the party will today meet at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa to adopt a common candidate who would be presented at tomorrow’s (Monday) National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting for endorsement.
Although many aspirants have presented themselves before various caucuses, seeking support, it has emerged that only a few are left to further appease the most powerful caucuses: the presidency’s inner caucus, the PDP governors’ forum, the legislative caucus, party elders’ caucus, and a caucus of the party within the National Working Committee.
As at yesterday, the list appeared to have narrowed down to current transport minister Idris Umar, who is from Gombe, former presidential adviser on National Assembly Matters, Senator Abba Aji, and former national vice chairman of the party for the North East, Mohammed Wakil. Both of them are from Borno State.
It was difficult to pinpoint which of the contenders will make it because the selection process requires delicate balancing of forces and interests. While the Northeast is tipped to produce chairman, some states in the region are more favored.
In certain calculations, Borno and Gombe are ahead, but from past experience, the PDP, having become trouble wary, does not want to go to states where a PDP government would foment trouble for the national headquarters, like it happened in Adamawa. At the same time, it is feared that it could be counter productive going to pick the party chairman from a non-PDP controlled state.
Borno seems to have an edge over Gombe in that regard. Umar was said to have continued his campaign despite President Jonathan’s reported directive that no serving minister should be considered for the party’s number one job.
Other contenders include: former FCT minister, Abba Gana (Borno); chairman of the defunct Presidential Committee on Asset Verification, Ibrahim Bunu Sheriff (Borno); and the former Grassroots Development Movement (GDM) chairman, Alhaji Gambo Lawan.
Former Nigerian ambassador to South Africa, Hassan Adamu; former Bauchi State governor, Adamu Muazu; and Tukur’s main challenger in the 2012 election for PDP chairman, Musa Babayo. Alhaji Shettima Mustapha, Alhaji Idris Waziri, ex-Police Affairs minister, Maina Waziri, Senator Abubakar Mahdi, Alhaji Habu Fari, Alhaji Rufa Alkali and Alhaji Aliyu Idi Hong are also in the race.
Other factors at play include the party’s desire to assuage the feelings of some aggrieved members and win back some of those who have defected. Part of the strategy is to pick a chairman who could reach out.
Apart from subtle overtures that have been made to some of the defected governors, PDP’s top leaders, it was learnt, have resolved to break the ranks of the defectors and make it difficult for them to act in unison.
In states where the governors defected with their deputies, the party will be reaching out to the deputies, their key supporting senators, members of House of Representatives and even strong commissioners.
The fresh reconciliatory exercise, it was gathered, would be concluded before the beginning of the party’s primaries, to enable the party give serious consideration to members who might return.
A staunch PDP member in the National Assembly said, “this time around, the party is serious at reaching out to the political strongholds of all the defecting governors, particularly those who might not want to return to PDP.”
He said: “Look, there is no end to politics, and this time, I tell you that it is about who has the best political offer. If you defect just because you felt politically ignored, the party is now reaching out to you. Why do you think such a person would still want to go away, especially when he knows he can’t get as much political relevance in the party he defected to? Just wait a few days and watch as political events unfold.
“The issue of bandwagon effect will really not work, because at the end of the day, the question that would be asked is, ‘what political gain is there for me?’ If what is politically good for your political father is not good for you, then nobody will tell you to change your mind, because that political father may not be able to get you any serious political bargain, compared to what you are getting in PDP.”
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