PDP under pressure to pick consensus national chairman

Idowu Samuel, Abuja - 03.01.2008

THERE are indications that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as a result of pressure on its leadership, will present a consensus candidate at its National Convention scheduled for the first quarter of this year.

A top member of the party told the Nigerian Tribune that some staunch supporters of President Umaru Yar’Adua had drawn up a proposal for the PDP to streamline the number of the chairmanship candidates ostensibly to save the ruling party from danger of collapse.

It was learnt that the pro-Yar’Adua members of the PDP were of the view that allowing just any member to become the PDP chairman could spell danger for the party which is already enmeshed in internal crisis hence, the need for a consensus candidate.

However, the PDP‘s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Chief Bayo Alao, said the National Executive Committee of the party had not endorsed the idea of a consensus candidate for the election, stressing that the idea could have emanated from outside the PDP.

Alao said the PDP could only endorse the idea if it came from the zone (SouthEast) to which the position had been zoned and with the full support of all the chairmanship candidates. He said the PDP already had a position on the issue of consensus candidacy and that the party would not manipulate the chairmanship race in favour of any candidate.

He added that the PDP’s position was in tandem with the expectations by the Presidency on the need to observe the rule of law and transparency in the conduct of the coming congresses and national convention of the party.

“The National Executive Committee of our party has not been briefed by anyone about the issue of consensus candidacy. If there is anything on the issue, it exists outside the party and perhaps at the instance of those with specific interest or agenda,” he said.

“However, I can say that the chairmanship position had been zoned by our party to the SouthEast, so also other elective positions in the party. The truth of the matter is that if the SouthEast zone resolved to settle for a consensus candidate and they make their resolve known to us, we may then agree to their terms.

“The same thing goes for other zones which have elective positions zoned to them. The PDP cannot stop any of the zone from settling for consensus candidates most especially if the process came about in conformity with rule of law. But the PDP would not go out of its way to force the idea on anyone.”

No fewer than 24 candidates had signified interest in contesting the PDP chairmanship at the party’s next national convention, the date of which is yet to be fixed by the party. Prominent among the aspirants are Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Dr. Sam Egwu, Chief Rochas Okorocha, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, Chief Fidelis Ozichukwu, Honourable Tony Anyanwu, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and Chief (Mrs) Caroline Nwosu.

The PDP has fixed January 31 for the meeting of its NEC to decide the specific date for the congresses and national convention. The party has thrice postponed the date of its national convention.