The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that the party would not settle for a sole presidential aspirant in the 2019 elections.
The party said it would rather be pre-occupied with the provision of an enabling environment for all the aspirants to canvass votes at its national convention than to be thinking of asking some of the aspirants to step down.
Among those who have indicated interest to pick the sole presidential ticket of the party are a former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar; a former governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso; Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal and Governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Dankwambo.
Also, a former governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau; a former governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa; a former minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Alhaji Kabiru Tanimu (SAN) and a former governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido, have signified their readiness to pick the ticket.
The President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, has also hinted that he might join the race, but said he was still making consultations.
Meanwhile, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, told our correspondent in Abuja on Saturday, that the party was not thinking of pruning down the number of the aspirants.
He also said that the NWC was not talking with the aspirants on the need to have a consensus presidential candidate, but added that the aspirants on their own were free to discuss among themselves on the issue.
He said, “Members of the National Working Committee are not thinking or asking for a consensus presidential candidate. We are not even discussing it.
“Nevertheless we will not stop anyone or any group that is discussing that with the aspirants or even if the aspirants are discussing that among themselves.
“We are interested in having a rancour-free national convention where we will openly elect an acceptable presidential candidate that will overwhelmingly defeat President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress in 2019.
“The whole world saw how we conducted our national convention where all delegates were given free hands to elect officers of their choice. We will also conduct an acceptable presidential primary where all the contestants will be allowed to take part.
“We are confident that at the end of the exercise, all the aspirants would commend the exercise and would express willingness to work with the winner of the party’s presidential ticket.”
