Some power brokers in the Peoples Democratic Party are plotting to counter an alleged plan by the current Chairman of the PDP, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff to transmute into the party’s presidential candidate in 2019.

There is a belief within the party that Sheriff and Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, are planning to jointly run for the presidency in 2019.

A reliable source within the party told our correspondents that Fayose backed Sheriff for the chairmanship position because he (Fayose) had plans to be Sheriff’s running mate in the 2019 presidential election.

Two weeks ago, Sheriff, a former Governor of Borno State, had said that God “used Fayose to make me chairman.”

Already, the PDP, which is in control of only two northern states (Gombe and Taraba), has zoned the presidency to the North in 2019.

A member of the Board of Trustees of the party from the North-East who spoke on condition of anonymity, said there was no way both men would be allowed to fly the party’s ticket.

The source, a party man of several years standing, said, “This is a joke of the century. These two are controversial. Sheriff has not even been allowed into the party fully.

“Now, they are saying he wants to be President. It isn’t possible. That will signify the death of the party as millions would either defect or go and form another party.”

A reliable source within the party said some party chiefs were bothered by Sheriff and Fayose’s close relationship. In recent times, both men have attended several social events together including the wedding of Fayose’s niece in Lagos on Saturday.

He said, “Sheriff is rich but he is not the richest northern politician in the PDP. He does not have the backing of the northern elements in the PDP given the fact that he is still quite new in the party. Sheriff’s tenure is meant to end by May but there is a plot to elongate his tenure till 2018 and in the process, gain control of the party structure.

“He will then resign and run for the presidency but we will not allow him.”

The source said, “Already, supporters of Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State and former FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed, are spoiling for a fight as both governors also have presidential ambitions. In the current dispensation, the governors are two of the most influential PDP politicians from the North.
“Fayose has obviously miscalculated. He is going in October 2018 and his immunity will end seven months before Buhari’s tenure ends. With the way he has been attacking President Muhammadu Buhari, I don’t know how he will survive without his immunity within that period. He thinks his support for Sheriff will endear him to northern politicians but they are not happy with him with the way he has been attacking Buhari.”

Two weeks ago, the South-West chapter of the party had declared its support for the North to retain the PDP’s national chairmanship position and endorsed Senator Buruji Kashamu as its zonal leader.
Another source, a senior party man, told our correspondent that the endorsement of Sheriff was a ploy to ensure that he remained as the chairman till 2018.

The source who is a member of the PDP Ministers’ Forum, told our correspondent that Fayose, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and Kashamu were “taking members of the party for granted”.

“Sheriff’s plan is to metamorphose from the chairman to the presidential candidate and that was why Fayose brought him in. Fayose, Wike and Buruji are the ones supporting Sheriff for President. The North will get the presidency but their plan will not work because Sheriff is not our candidate,” he said.

He thinks his support for Sheriff will endear him to northern politicians but they are not happy with him with the way he has been attacking Buhari.”

However , I'm just imagining SWerners having to make a choice between Fayose & Prof Osinbanjo ... Fayose's delusion of grandeur ehn .......

orisa37:
Let us work for SARAKI/EKWEREMADU. Saraki is from the North isn't it? And with the way APC/Caliphate are treating Saraki with love/hate kids gloves, they are alienating Saraki and can't cope with his astuteness.

SamuelAnyawu:
Sheriff/Fayose ticket?


Our Great Party will never make such a colossal Mistake

Redoil:
Even when the slayer of Buhari has said it number of times that he is not intrested in the seat of the presidency.

otokx:
Its not possible to present a Muslim/Muslim ticket in PDP unless you want to loose all the SS and SE votes.

GstringAngela:
Mr Anyanwu, if PDP is ''your great party'', what now becomes of IPOB? Dont get it twisted, Sheriff/Fayose ticket is a sure bet in 2019

SamuelAnyawu:


Surebet? hehehe...

Number 1 Sheriff is a Kanuri who could not win a Senatorial Election in Borno state. He can't slug it out with a hausa/fulani Buhari..

2) Yorubas will vote an Osibanjo with Tinubu's backing rather than Fayose...remember Ekiti state has no population strength..

3) Population of Igbos voting for both of them can't be enormous the way we supported GEJ.. PDP should bring a VP from Southeast. Dazzol

GstringAngela:
I concur with Points 1 & 2 but I am a bit curious about 3. What about Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB? What if you guys successfully break away from Nigeria before 2019, would you still participate in an election in Nigeria?

orisa37:
Saraki/Ekweremadu is a Time Bomb that is getting ready to detonate soon and to unite sw, se, ss and the nc. Their representation will push the nw and the ne to Chad and Niger. Saraki is Hausa/Yoruba/Fulani plus Ekweremadu, he will be the Nigerian we want.

Firefire:
all of them na fraud.