LEADERS of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have joined the search for a credible party member from the zone to succeed former President Olusegun Obasanjo as the Board of Trustees (BoT's) chairman.


Two PDP leaders gain from the area: former party' National Chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo and the sixth Senate President, Ken Nnamani, have allegedly been tipped for the office.

But party sources said at the weekend that the odds favour Nwodo as Nnamani faces opposition from some PDP chiefs over his alleged radical views.

The Guardian learnt that though the BoT secretary, Senator Walid Jubrin, indicated that the next chairman of the board would emerge through consensus, the input of President Goodluck Jonathan was central to who will eventually occupy the influential seat.

A source within the Legacy House Headquarters of PDP told The Guardian that despite the big names being speculated as potential occupants of the post, Nwodo might be picked to firm up the planned reforms in the party.

He said Nwodo was preferred because of his "his deep knowledge of the challenges of the party, as well as practical suggestions to situate PDP as a formidable national movement for socio-economic transformation of Nigeria.

"But more importantly, the Presidency has seen through the intrigues that led to Nwodo's unceremonious exit from office and was prepared to not only pacify him, but also to leverage on his re-branding strategies he enunciated for the party while in office. It is the thinking of the leaders of the party that Nwodo and the incumbent National Chairman, Alhaji Bamangar Tukur, can work together to cement the new vision of the party", the source said.

He said while all eyes are on the South-East for the potential BoT chairman, Nnamani was penciled down for the position but "his perceived extreme radical views on the party, especially his leadership of the reform group, reduced the chances of his selection".

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