The disquiet over the zone that is to produce PDP National Chairman at the party’s elective National Conventional slated for December 9 is becoming intense by the day. The position has since been zoned to the Southern party of the country which entitles mostly the South South and the South west to the position.

Major front line contenders for the chairmanship position in the southwest include Chief Olabode George from Lagos state, Professor Tunde Adeniran from Ekiti state, Taoheed Adedoja from Oyo state, Chief Rasheed Ladoja from Oyo state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel from Ogun state and Chief Jimi Agbaje from Lagos state.

These are very qualified candidates for the chairmanship position no doubt. However, the overall interest of the south west region may not be reasonably served if the region is consigned to the chairmanship slot of the PDP.

The incumbent Vice-president of the nation, Professor Yemi Osinbajo is from the South west and the region should not go for anything lesser if PDP expect Yorubas to give them support in the 2019 election.

Political hierarchy of the nation gives far more powers and influence to the vice-president and the senate president compared to that of any party chairman. There is always a limit to whatever power and influence that a party chairman can wield especially in Nigeria. Chairman of any party in Nigeria is always at the mercy of the president and often than not subservient to the president and the vice-president.


Behind the facade of PDP chairmanship ambition of both Chiefs Uche Secondus and Raymond Dokpesi from the South south is more benefits that South west region will stand to benefit. The duo of Uche Secondus and Raymond Dokpesi are both eminently qualified for the chairmanship position; but the intimidating antecedent of the former better qualifies him ahead of the later.

Uche Secondus would only return to a familiar terrain having served as the River state Chairman of PDP before taking charge as the Deputy National Chairman of party and eventually served in acting capacity as the National Chairman of the PDP for some months.

Describing Uche Secondus as the best man for the PDP Chairmanship position is to say the least. Beyond the underlying factor of Secondus turning out to be a round peg in a round hole is the inherent political benefits it will naturally confer on the South west region of the country.

South south had just produced the immediate past president of the country in the person of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and would only be contended with party chairmanship position in the political equation of 2019. It should also be noted that South south is about the only region of the country with a very strong and unbridled presence of PDP.

This is a region that is to be banked upon by PDP for wholesale electoral victory in 2019. The best way to further entrenched loyalty to PDP in consciousness of South southern people is to concede the chairmanship to the region to engender sense of appreciation and belonging.


Emergence of Uche Secondus as PDP Chairman could only provoke a naturally and unavoidable alteration in the political permutation of the party. This alteration will better place the South west at an advantageous position at the end of the day. PDP as a party cannot afford going into a general election without factoring political interest of the South west into its calculations. The region could at worst be considered for either of the positions of vice-president or senate president.

Truth is that the region can never give much support to PDP in 2019 election if APC retains position of vice-president for Professor Yemi Osinbajo. This reminds of a Yoruba proverb that says whoever that wants to take a pot of honey from a child must be prepared to him a bowl of bean cake.

The South west people are highly reputed for their political maturity and enlightenment. Therefore, it could amount to a political suicide for PDP to expect the Yorubas to vote against a party that offers them exalted position of vice-president. We must bear in mind that sentiment and personal political gain are major factors that determine electoral choices of the people.

It is a fact that the APC led federal government has so far performed below the expectations of many Nigerians. It is also a fact that many Nigerians are already disillusioned with the Buhari led administration. However, PDP leadership may have themselves to blame at the end if they fail to capture the twin factors of sentiment and personal political gains of the South west in their calculations.

The make or mar elective National Convention of the PDP on December 9, 2017 will be a major determinant of the party’s cohesion, growth and ultimate victory at the 2019 general election.

The best path of success for the party to follow is to ensure the emergence of Chief Uche Secondus at the convention not only to yield greater advantage to the south west but to ultimately clear the coast for the party to return to power in 2019.




http://wdn.com.ng/south-west-stand-benefit-chairmanship-uche-secondus/

We do not want anything from the poverty development party, we already have the vice-president, and by God grace we shall have the presidency in 2023

I laugh at second to the last paragraph and last paragraph of this thread

Temitemi1 this is just nonsense, why excluding the south east?? The south west can never give pdp a bloc vote like the south east will, South West should forget about vp position from pdp in 2019, it's not possible....

I go modify when day break

AzeezAbubakar1:
we want biafra
QED
we the good people of SE are done with the deceitful politics of Nigeria whether apc pdp kowa we're done.
the system must change
count SE out in this rubbish politics
people like you makes she-males to think ipob have anything to do with this country dirty politics.
a system that made it impossible for an ordinary citizen to rise and become a leader without some major commitment.

nonsense

ah! TheMonster IPOB is back again. I thought you were one of those pigs that got stung by the python's dance.
Thought you died oh

Following.

I laugh at efulefu Igbos who haven't already seen the big picture of where PDP will pick its VP from in 2019. This is the disadvantage of giving un-negotiated support to a party. PDP knows that most unenlightened Igbos are already down for them no matter what and so don't need to give them anything to get their support. That is why they want to change the rules now and pick the VP from the south west in order to make inroads into APC territory. APGA remains the only hope of the Igbo man and until the other four states of the south east fight to also enthrone APGA in their states to give Igbos a united stand to make political demands in this country, PDP and APC will continue to show their utter contempt for Igbos and keep the south east a conquered territory.