PDP National Chairmanship: Presidency Yet To Decide On Anyim, Izuogu, Others

By Dotun Oladipo - 26.01.2006

The Presidency is yet to decide on whom to back for the national chairmanship of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Saturday Tribune has learnt.

But some sources insisted on Thursday that the Presidency had narrowed its search to two of the about 30 contenders for the position.

These are the former President of the Senate, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim; and former Chairman of the Peoples Solidarity Party (PSP) and a strong member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Dr. Ezekiel Izuogu.

But a senior presidential aide said President Umaru Yar’Adua was yet to take a decision on whom to back.

The aide said the decision on whom to support would only be taken after Monday’s meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party, where a number of issues would be resolved.

Such issues include when to dissolve the NEC and the modalities for the National Convention. Sources, however, told Saturday Tribune that there were indications that either Anyim or Izuogu would get the support of the Presidency.

A source said that though Anyim was the only one being tipped initially for support by the Presidency, latter day thinking appears to favour Izuogu.

It was learnt that the decision to back Anyim was initially taken in order to halt the move by the camp of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to have the former Governor of Ebonyi State emerge as the chairman of the party.

Sources said that due to the fact that the Obasanjo camp had started focusing on Anyim and was looking for ways to rubbish him, the Presidency decided to look at the field again for another credible candidate.

Anyim’s greatest credential was that he came out unscathed as president of the Senate and was seen as being above board during his tenure.

He is also regarded as a statesman, more so because he did not seek to return to the Senate. Sources said that most of those consulted on whom to back after the searchlight was turned on Anyim preferred Izuogu because of the progressive credentials he parades.

It was gathered that because he had worked with different classes of politicians across all geo-political zones, he is regarded as an acceptable candidate.