Posted By: Emmanuel Oladesu


Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chiefs are to raise a search panel for a credible presidential candidate, a source said yesterday.

A senior party official, who pleaded not to be named, said the party had decided to scout for a “sellable” candidate who can match President Muhammadu Buhari, who is believed to be interested in a second term.

“We have made mistakes in the past. We violated zoning and we paid dearly for it. We are considering going for a presidential candidate, who will withstand the predictable propaganda of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government. We want to get it right. If we want to win, we must get a better candidate; a candidate that is better than what the APC will offer because Nigerians will compare and contrast,” the source said.

According to the source, who pleaded not to be named, the party may be looking beyond the array of likely presidential aspirants who have started consultations and mobilisation of supporters, ahead of next year’s primary.

PDP presidential contenders include former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Sokoto State Governor Attahiru Barafawa, former Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, former Kaduna State Governor Ahmed Makarfi, Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose and Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo.

The source said: “There is no shortage of presidential aspirants in our party. But, one factor that will determine the selection of the flag bearer is his ability to win. We as a party want to win. Therefore, the opinion is that, while studying those already holding consultations on their presidential ambition, the door should be open for more people to come in.

The source said: “Many APC leaders are former leaders of the PDP. Thus, communication is easy. We did not offend ourselves. They were fighting Jonathan and he is no more in the saddle. We still meet and relate and the bond is not entirely severed.”

Among APC stalwarts being wooed, according to the source, is Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwakwanso.
However, despite his potential, Tambuwal’s limitation is that he is considered as a promising politician from a narrow political base and disputed formidability, although he had a seemingly big stature then as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The source said: “There is no evidence of lack of amity between the PDP and Kwakwanso. Now that there is a division in Kano State APC, we are likely to succeed in our effort to encourage Kwakwanso to return. Kwakwanso actually wants to return, if we mount more pressure on him and convince him. But when he returns, he may have to fight for the ticket at the primary without any special concession given to him beyond the normal waiver.”

The presidential search team, it was gathered will be made up of experienced party leaders, “intellectual friends” of the PDP, founding fathers, National Assembly members, the governors and other party officials, who will consult widely and liaise with prominent leaders of opinion, including royal fathers, religious leaders, past leaders of government and other influential blocs in the society.

The source added: “For us in the PDP, it is a moment of sober reflection. We are facing the reality. It may not be easy to displace an incumbent. But, they defeated us. That has given us the courage that we can also defeat them.

“We need a new strategy. We must also make sacrifice to bounce back. To win, we must strategise, plan and execute our plans with dexterity. MKO Abiola was accepted by all the six regions. Somebody with that kind of antecedent can be honoured with the ticket to salvage Nigeria from the APC.

He can come from the business world, diplomacy, and other sectors where he has made a name.

“The person must be clean; without any baggage and he must be knowledgeable and versatile. He must have adequate knowledge of how to turn the economy around. And you know, the first criterion is that he must be someone from the North because we have zoned the presidency to the North. The factor we are considering is the winning factor and the PDP family will not compromise this factor.”

kcmichael:
Wike is the Man.Anyone can contest

nwakibe:
If PDP refuse to give Atiku the ticket, they should forget about Aso Rock come 2019.

kcmichael:
Wike is the Man.Anyone can contest

Splashme:
PDP should consider the following:

1) Aliko DANGOTE

2) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu

3) Atiku Abubakar

4) Alh Dankwambo (this guy has turned the desert state of Gombe to an economic hub)



Yep

lilfreezy:


Did you just say dangote?

That's the worst choice anyone can come up with. People are currently complaining about his monopolistic style in Africa, imagine what will happen if that dude becomes president

Bede2u:
Atiku is sellable.

Also they should consider Nuhu Ribadu if Atiku has issues b4 the election. The logic is this... Ribadu is a younger version of Buhari. So anything APC claims Buhari is, Ribadu is as well.

For Running mate, they should go for Prof. Soludo. The logic is this.... Soludo is a younger version of Osinbajo. So anything APC claims Osinbajo is, Soludo is as well.

Make the fight start

orisa37:
Begin from Makarfi: The first detribalised Governor of Kaduna State. From Makarfi City in Kaduna State, so he is not a Fulani immigrant. He is an economist accountant. He recruited N. Sambo for PDP. He restructured Kaduna remarkably to accommodate Christians and Muslim in peace after the Sharia unrest.

David Mark: Very loyal to the Presidency, Authority, PDP and the Society. I don't like Retired Soldiers to keep coming back to rule Nigeria, otherwise OBJ will be eternally right that Soldiers are better Managers of men and materials than civilians. David Mark is good and astute. He is a North Central while Makarfi is a North Westerner.

Dangote is a winner if PDP can make him.

NOI is a winner if PDP can win her.

Wike is good but should do second term as Rivers' Governor.

Fayiose should go to Senate.

Atiku will fail Nigeria. He has a Message for PDP, so he can be persuaded to be PRO. From there, we watch him for 2023.

DonVikings:
Ipob cum Atichukwulating Atichukwulators would dump PDP if they dare not pick Atichukwu.

The only thing I am not sure about is if Biafra would still be their next sing song.

OnucheAdams:


Is it the same Ribadu that struggles to express himself in public?
Ribadu lacks political capital and may struggle to win his home state of Adamawa.