24 hrs to PDP convention: Egwu, Anyim divide Yar'Adua, N/Assembly

By Idowu Samuel and Taiwo Adisa, Abuja - 07.03.2008

THE two frontrunners for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairmanship, Dr. Sam Egwu and Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, may be in for a close contest at tomorrow’s national covention of the PDP in Abuja.

This followed the support that members of the National Assembly PDP caucus appear to have declared for Anyim, while the presidency has thrown its weight behind Egwu. The new alignment came at a time when plans to choose a consensus candidate among the 27 aspirants for the job hit the brick wall.

Indications to this emerged as top officials in the Presidential Villa and former ministers in the government of former President Olusegun Obasanjo stormed the Transcorp Hotel, Abuja, in a last-minute effort to shore up support for Egwu. It was a clear indication that Egwu had penetrated the Villa contrary to general impression.

A former minister in the past cabinet, Honourable Bala Kaoje, who was seen at the hotel along with other dignitaries from the Presidential Villa, affirmed that Egwu had the support of most officials in the government.

He said he was not sure of the intention of President Umaru Yar’Adua whom he said had refused to tell anyone about the aspirants he may support during the convention.

In another development, members of the National Assembly demonstrated keen commitment to the aspiration of former Senate President Anyim as the PDP caucus in both the Senate and the House of Representatives accorded him a rousing reception during his visit on Thursday

Anyim got the nod of the senators and members of the House of Representatives, who are delegates to the National convention. Anyim, who was hosted in the National Assembly by members of the PDP caucus in the two chambers, was endorsed by the legislators, who assured him of their votes. Anyim arrived at the Senate wing of the National Assembly at about 2:00 p.m.

The senators also decided to adopt Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje for the position of National Secretary of the party. It was gathered that the decision to back Baraje at the expense of Senator Tunde Ogbeha was largely informed by religious considerations, as the senators concluded that since a Christian was sure to emerge the national chairman, there was the need for religious balancing, thus the choice of Baraje.

“We agreed to the choice of Baraje and we are sure of 95 per cent of our members are supporting that choice. We have to consider the need for religion balancing, since a Christian is certain to emerge as national chairman, we believe it is only fair to consider the Muslim in the race,” a senator said.

He had met with members of the House of Representatives, who assured him of their support. Anyim was received at the front entrance of the National Assembly by the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN), Senator Osita Izunazo and Senator Effiong Bob, while the trio ran into the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu at the lobby of the National Assembly, while the former Senate President was being ushered in to Hearing Room 1 of the Senate.

Anyim was immediately treated to a rousing ovation by the senators, who said that he should take a bow and go. A source at the meeting told the Nigerian Tribune at the end of the meeting that the Senators did not allow Anyim to campaign; he merely took a bow and moved round the Hearing Room for pleasantries. “I can assure you that no fewer than 95 per cent of the senators are supporting the former Senate President, we gave him a rousing ovation, that is true and he was not allowed to even campaign, because he is already a part of us and we are pleased with his candidature,” one of the senators told the Nigerian Tribune.

It was also gathered that the members of the House of Representatives also gave Anyim a rousing ovation and assured him that they would give him a block vote on Saturday. Senate Spokesman, Senator Ayogu Eze, who briefed newsmen at the end of the meeting with Anyim said that the meeting was part of the process of consultation ahead of the national convention. He said that the senators were meeting with the aspirants before the meeting with the President Umaru Yar’Adua later on Thursday.

He said that the senators would be led to the Presidential Villa by the Senate President, to hold talks on the convention. Anyim, who also spoke with newsmen in the Senate, said he was not desperate to hold the position, while he believed that he was competent to hold it. “My concern is to bring a new dawn for democracy in the country,” Anyim said. Other aspirants, including Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyawu and Egwu who also visited the National Assembly, but could not rally much support as the lawmakers in both the House and the Senate did not wait to receive them

This development came on the heels of an emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee of the PDP called by the outgoing National Chairman, Chief Ahmadu Ali. The National Caucus of the PDP had met at the Presidential Villa last night with president Yar’Adua as indications are rife that the decision by the caucus at the meeting would be communicated to the NEC of the PDP and ratified by members today.

A top source at the PDP told Nigerian Tribune that the main issue likely to be discussed by the NEC weas that of consensus candidacy which some members of the party had frowned on. President Yar’Adua had said he would not support any of the PDP chairmanship aspirants as he had been reported to have insisted that the National Convention of the PDP should be subjected to a thorough democratic process through which the new national officials would emerge.

However, there were indications that both the Senate President and the House of Representatives Speaker, Senator David Mark and Dimeji Bankole respectively had resolved to keep their choice for national chairman to their chests until the day of the National Convention on Satureday.

The Special Assistant to the Senate President, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, in an interview with Nigerian Tribune said, although individual senators could have made up their minds on who to support among the chairmanship aspirants, David Mark could not just make such a decision.

He, however, hinted that the preference of the Senate president would not be at variance with that of the top hierarchy of the party;
In the same vein, the Special Assistant to the Speaker, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, said his boss, Bankole had not made up his mind on who to support at the convention, at the moment.

Said he, “The Speaker occupies a very sensitive position and everybody is watching him. He must therefore weigh his options well before declaring it open. In any case, if President Yar’Adua is not supporting a particular aspirant for now, why must the Speaker do so, more so as he is open to most of them.”

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo flew into Abuja at About 4.00pm on Thursday and was driven to the Transcorp Hotel where he met some of the PDP chieftains ahead of the NEC meeting today.