The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirants are facing a tough battle in agreeing on a consensus arrangement among them.
It was gathered on Tuesday that the consensus moves by some top presidential aspirants were heading for the rocks and that the party might have no option but to adopt either direct or indirect primaries for its May 29 shadow election.
It was reliably learnt that the aspirants were not making headway on the consensus discussion because most of the aspirants believed they were better positioned to be the PDP presidential candidate.
Findings also showed that disagreements on whether zoning should be adopted or not were another hurdle.
No fewer than 14 aspirants have picked the Presidential forms sold at N40m each.
Those who have joined the race are: A former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi; former Senate President Bukola Saraki; Sokoto State Governor and Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Aminu Tambuwal; and his Bauchi State counterpart, Bala Mohammed and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
Others include: Ovation Publisher, Dele Momodu; former Governor Ayodele Fayose; Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State; his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike; investment banker and economist, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen; a former President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Sam Ohuabunwa; Dr Nwachukwu Anakwenze; former Senate President Pius Anyim and Oliver Diana.
Saraki, who alongside Tambuwal and Mohammed held a consultative meeting with Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, on Monday, said the consensus plan of the aspirants was working.
But a top member of the party, who confided in one of our correspondents, stated, “Contrary to the picture being painted outside, the presidential aspirants are not making any headway. One, they have obtained forms and each of them believes he is the best for the consensus arrangement.
“Two, without the zoning problem being resolved, the consensus arrangement will not fly. For now, the party has not agreed on zoning. Atiku is not ready to step down. If consensus must succeed, all aspirants must key in.”
Obi will support a consensus candidate based on fairness, equity and respect for each zone – Aide
When contacted, the Media Aide to Obi, Mr Valentine Obienyem, said his principal would only support consensus if it was based on fairness, equity and respect for each zone.
Obienyem, in an interview stated, “Peter Obi will support a consensus candidate based on fairness, equity and respect for each zone.
Although, at the presentation of the nomination of interest form to him by a group of young professionals, Obi, had said he should be considered for the consensus option, because, “since the return of democracy in Nigeria, only late Dr Alex Ekwueme, from the Igbo extraction had contested the party presidential primaries with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in 1999 and lost.”
When contacted on the telephone, the Spokesman for Atiku, Paul Ibe, said his principal had been meeting with stakeholders and delegates seeking their support ahead of the party primary.
He, therefore, did not say anything about zoning or consensus.
“All I can say is that we are busy seeking support from delegates. We met with stakeholders in the North-West on Monday as you know. So, we are busy gaining support and telling people why they should support us,” he said.
But an aide of Tambuwal, who spoke to one of our correspondents, said he believed the Sokoto State governor was favoured to emerge as the consensus candidate.
According to him, his principal has more national spread than other members of the party in the presidential race.
He stated, “After all, Bala (the Bauchi State governor) still had the chance to run for the second tenure in his state, I don’t think others have national spread. In any case, many or all of the aforesaid are hypothetical as the team has yet to come up with its position.”
Saraki on Tuesday advised the PDP to go for a consensus presidential candidate.
Speaking with journalists after a meeting with the Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, at his country home in Umuobiakwa, Obingwa, Saraki said that arrangement would be in the best interest of Nigeria in the present circumstance.
He said the PDP needed to get things right before the presidential primary, adding, “If the PDP wins, we all win because we all are one.”
Saraki said picking a consensus candidate for the 2023 presidential poll would put PDP in a vantage position to win the election. – Punch.
