Makarfi, Tambuwal, Kwankwaso, Lamido, Shekarau on shopping list

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s presidential ambition was hanging in the balance at the weekend, with the governors taking control of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

New power brokers have emerged in the party — courtesy of the Saturday national convention where erstwhile leaders’ influence took a big bashing.

Some of their candidates for National Working Committee (NWC) positions were rejected by governors based on a “Unity List” produced by the new power brokers whose emergence has shattered Atiku’s hope of securing with ease the party’s 2019 presidential ticket.


Atiku has just quit the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the main opposition party.

The governors are weighing the following aspirants and likely defectors, among others: ex-Governor Ahmed Makarfi; ex-Governor Sule Lamido, ex-Minister of Education Ibrahim Shekarau, Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo, ex-Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso (still being wooed by PDP) and Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (who is a political ally of the coordinator of the power brokers, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike). Tambuwal is of the APC.

Atiku , who has the backing of ex-Presidents Babangida and Jonathan, will have to court the governors to secure the ticket.

The governors are said to have had their list of presidential aspirants before Atiku rejoined the PDP.

It was learnt that the governors had an “unwritten pact with Makarfi” who fulfilled his part of the bargain, with the election of Prince Uche Secondus as chairman.

Although Tambuwal and Kwankwaso have not shown interest in defecting to PDP, the opposition party is believed to have been pleading with them to come back.


Some of Tambuwal’s supporters reportedly prefer a return to PDP. Kwankwaso’s are thinking of mounting the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) platform to displace APC in Kano State in 2019.

A party source said: “Atiku has many hurdles to cross before he can get the party’s presidential ticket. He has to convince the governors to support him. He will also face tough primaries with many presidential aspirants who are not ready to step down for him,

“The emergence of Secondus has altered Atiku’s permutations of an automatic presidential ticket.

“Atiku’s case is more complicated by the fact that some of the governors are disposed to Makarfi going by the way he was resilient in tackling the PDP crisis.

“It is an open secret in PDP that there was ‘an unwritten agreement’ between the governors and Makrafi on the election of the new national chairman and 2019 presidential poll. Secondus’ victory showed some signs of a deal by the two camps.

“There are also fears in the party that Wike might woo Tambuwal back to PDP and allow him to try his luck for the presidential ticket. With the huge resources displayed at the convention, Tambuwal may alter equations in the party.

“Atiku is certainly in a tight corner. As an experienced politician, he could see the signs. He has been ingenious politically and he can find his way through the landmines.”

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the roll call of the new power brokers, who determined the outcome of Saturday elective convention, includes new brigade of leaders taking over the PDP.

The power brokers are Nyesom Wike, Ayo Fayose and nine other governors; former Senate President David Mark, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, Senate Minority Leader Godswill Akpabio; ex-Governor Ibrahim Shema; ex-Minister of Women Affairs Hajiya Zainab Maina; ex-Governor Gabriel Suswam; a businessman, Ladi Adebutu; ex-Minister of Special Duties Tanimu Turaki; ex-Governor Babangida Aliyu, ex-Minister Aminu Wali, ex-Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Bala Mohammed; Chief Dan Orbih and others.

It was gathered that the “Unity List”, which facilitated the election of the new PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus and NWC members was the outcome of a tough political compromise by the governors and the new top leaders of the party.

Most of those on the Unity List were anointed candidates of the power brokers.

A breakdown of the list of the concessions by the power brokers is as follows:

National Chairman—(Uche Secondus)——Governor Nyesom Wike(Rivers)
Deputy National Chairman(South) —(Elder Yemi Akinwonmi) by Ladi Adebutu(Ogun)
Deputy National Chairman(North)—(Sen. Gamawa Babawa Garba) by ex-Minister of FCT, Sen. Bala Mohammed
National Secretary——(Sen. Ibrahim Tsauri)—by ex-Governor Ibrahim Shema(Bauchi)
Deputy National Secretary—(Dr. Agbo Emmanuel)—by ex-Governor Gabriel Suswam(Benue)
National Treasurer—(Hon. Aribisala Adewale)—produced by Governor Ayo Fayose(Ekiti)
Deputy National Treasurer—(Alh. Wada Masu) —a Personal Assistant to ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Aminu Wali(Kano)
Financial Secretary—(Abdullahi Husseini Maibasara)—handpicked by ex-Governor Babangida Aliyu
National Organising Secretary—(Col. Austin Akobundu)—by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State
National Publicity Secretary—(Mr. Kola Ologbodiyan) —slot conceded to Mark.
Deputy National Publicity Secretary—(Diran Odeyemi) produced by Governor Ayo Fayose.
National Legal Adviser—(Emmanuel Enoidem)— by the Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Godswill Akpabio and Governor Emmanuel Udom
National Youth Leader— (Ude Okoye)—by Ekweremadu and Governor Ugwuanyi of Enugu State.
Deputy National Youth Leader—(Umar Babangida Maina)—son of a former Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Zainab Maina.
It was learnt that others were products of zonal consensus and micro-zoning.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The PDP governors decided to do away with the old order in the party by engaging in fresh political permutations on how to win the general election in 2019.

“In some states, they threw away the baby with the bathwater to please some power brokers. For instance in Ogun State, they opted for Ladi Adebutu’s candidate instead of deferring to ex-Governor Gbenga Daniel.

“In Niger State, the governors romanced ex-Governor Babangida Aliyu and abandoned the likes of a former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana.

“The governors are hopeful that the Unity List can take the party far in 2019. And they are likely to dictate who will be the party’s candidates for some offices, it is evident that they are now in charge of the party.”

But, to another party source, the “so-called Unity List is an ambitious agenda to take over the structure of PDP by the governors”. “We believe that the politics behind the list is projection for 2019 general election,” he said, pleading not to be named.

“They also used the list to split the North in order to test the waters for 2019. For instance, the North agreed to vote en masse for a former Minister of Education, Prof. Tunde Adeniran until the Unity List was released and the story changed at the last minutes,” the source added.

The governors’ joker has created a setback for some leaders who indirectly and covertly supported some candidates.

These leaders include ex-Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, ex-Vice President Namadi Sambo, ex-Governors Gbenga Daniel, Rashidi Ladoja, Ibrahim Idris, Idris Wada, and Ramalan Yero; Prof. Jerry Gana, Jimi Agbaje, Raymond Dokpesi and ex-Deputy President of the Senate, Ibrahim Mantu, who supported Adeniran.

Others are ex-Minister of Finance Nenadi Usman, ex-Deputy Governor of Bauchi State Abdulmalik Mahmood, former Woman Leader Hajiya Inna Ciroma (the wife of one of the founders of PDP, Alh. Adamu Ciroma).

A PDP leader said: “The advice of some of these leaders did not count. For instance, Gen. Babangida wanted the chairmanship slot for the Southwest but the governors ignored his permutations.

“ If ex-President Jonathan had his way, he would have loved a former Minister of National Planning, Prof. Abubakar Olarewaju Suleiman, to be the party’s National Publicity Secretary. The governors thought otherwise.

“Mantu and Gana did not hide their preference for Adeniran for national chairman, but the intrigues surrounding the election of Secondus caused them a setback.

“Sambo backed Abubakar Mustapha from Kaduna for National Secretary but his candidate lost to the governors’ choice.”





How national chairman, others won

Prince Uche Secondus scored 2,000 votes out of 2,396 votes cast at the party’s national convention, which ended in the early hours yesterday at the Eagle Square, Abuja.

Chairman of the Electoral Sub-Committee of the convention and former Governor of Benue, Gabriel Suswan, announced the results.

“In this contest, nine gentlemen indicated their interests to contest, but here, four of them sent letters of withdrawal and so four were left.

“The other ones we were told have withdrawn but there was no letter to that effect.

“The four gentlemen that contested were Uche Secondus, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, Founder of Daar Communications; Prof. Tunde Adeniran, former Education Minister and Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, former Minister of Sports and Special Duties.

“Secondus scored 2,000 votes; Dokpesi, 66; Adeniran, 230 while Adedoja scored no vote,” Suswan said.

The candidates that withdrew are: Chief Bode George, former Deputy National Chairman; Gbenga Daniel, Rasheed Ladoja, erstwhile Governors of Ogun and Oyo States, respectively, and Jimi Agbaje, PDP governorship candidate in Lagos State in 2015 elections.

Other elected officers are Sen. Babayo Garmawa, Deputy National Chairman (North); Mr Yemi Akinwunmi, Deputy National Chairman (South); Sen. Umar Tsauri National Secretary and Mr Agbo Emmanuel, Deputy National Secretary.

Retired Col. Austin Akobundu is National Organising Secretary, Yakubu Hassan, Deputy National Organizing Secretary; Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, National Publicity Secretary and Diran Odeyemi, Deputy National Publicity Secretary.

Mr Abdullahi Maibasira emerged National Financial Secretary, Irona Gerald, Deputy National Financial Secretary; Aribisala Adewale, National Treasurer; Wada Masu, Deputy National Treasurer; Adamu Mustapha, National Auditor and Arong Divine, Deputy National Auditor.

Mariya Umar was elected National Women Leader, Umoru Hadiza, Deputy National Women Leader, and Emmanuel Enoidem, National Youth Leader.

Source:http://thenationonlineng.net/2019-atikus-plan-shaky-governors-seize-pdp/

Atiku may not get PDP ticket.

They will go for a new face from the north.

If PDP presents a fresh and unknown face. they will win.

people like me are tired of Buhari and Atiku


#ELECTION IS A GAME OF NUMBERS

2015 number of Registered Voters for election = 67,422,005

2015 number of Registered who came out to cast their votes = 28,278,083

2015 number of Registered who didn’t come out to vote = 39,143,922

2015 votes scored by Presidential candidates:
APC = 15,424,921
PDP = 12,853,162

APC won the election with 2,572,759. Too close to call.

Remove this winning figure from 39 million that never voted . You have over 37million that can cause damage to any political party

It is almost 3 years down the line these figures have changed, but to which direction?

Almost 40 million Nigerians did not vote. Who are they? Where are they and which party and candidates will they vote in 2019.

My prediction is that any party that penetrate social media, present a fresh vibrant fellow and do a lot of grassroot work will win 2019.

Ghen ghen!

Kwankwaso is just another bigot.

Lamido or Tambuwal will be a bomb.

Atiku is just an unmarketable merchandise.

Trust me I would never vote a Buhari not in this lifetime....i still think tambuwal will work out for the nation as a whole

As far it's not Buhari comes 2019 I'm okay with it.

Wat is Tambuwal doing in Sokoto in terms of Infrastructures, ?
Not in, or is it not Same governor that Paid 960million Naira to Sultan for no reason

crackerspub:
As far it's not Buhari comes 2019 I'm okay with it.

Same With Me, Buhari is Too Dull and Vindictive for Leadership.

PDP get back Ribadu and make him your presidential candidate and win the election

Anything Buhari can claim to have Ribadu has and is younger

It's not rocket science

“Some of Tambuwal’s supporters reportedly prefer a return to PDP. Kwankwaso’s are thinking of mounting the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) platform to displace APC in Kano State in 2019.“








Sending Buhari back to Daura is my concern, by any means possible, he must GO come 2019

There are cracks within PDP already.

SMH for the one time biggest party in Africa.

crackerspub:
As far it's not Buhari comes 2019 I'm okay with it.

Lets Join our hands and pursue them out of ASO Rock to their respective RAT holes.

Nonsense coming from Lagos/Ibadan expressway newspaper

What you expect?

"Atiku has just quit the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the main opposition party."
- No longer news

The newspaper should be interested in the political future of their founding fathers

"Although Tambuwal and Kwankwaso have not shown interest in defecting to PDP, the opposition party is believed to have been pleading with them to come back."

- How? Mere speculation

Mr Atiku... Weldone sir

Buhari already winning

The kind failure wey go hit atiku for 2019 I pray make e no give am stroke.

Built2last:
Atiku may not get PDP ticket.

They will go for a new face from the north.

If PDP presents a fresh and unknown face. they will win.

people like me are tired of Buhari and Atiku

An unknown face?not sure you understand Nigerian politics

Atiku should focus on Intels, his farms and his university and leave Nigeria out of his greed.

I'd even prefer the dullard Buhari to continue ruining us than for Atiku to rule us.

And the source is Tinubu paper "The Nation"?..... Lolz

PDP stand a better chance with Atiku,any other candidate will be like bringing an unknown product to an already saturated market. Atiku is their best shot right now.

oh

Not to mention Atiku's gay lifestyle. I'm not bothered about his sexual preferences but Nigerians will not be too tolerant of sexual leanings.

Keneking:
Nonsense coming from Lagos/Ibadan expressway newspaper

What you expect?

"Atiku has just quit the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the main opposition party."
- No longer news

The newspaper should be interested in the political future of their founding fathers

"Although Tambuwal and Kwankwaso have not shown interest in defecting to PDP, the opposition party is believed to have been pleading with them to come back."

- How? Mere speculation

Keneshuku, you see why gala and fan yogo hawkers should keep shut when intelligent matters are being discussed?

Read the posts before yours, read your post, then park your fan yogo bicycle under the tree and sit in one corner to think about your life.

Ermacc:
An unknown face?not sure you understand Nigerian politics

same way Americans like you told Trump he cant win because he is unknown in the circles of politics.

once people are tired, they are tired. we are tired of the old gays

I always knew Atiku is going nowhere, except only if they actualize Biafra republic before 2019 sha.

GavelSlam:
There are cracks within PDP already.

says who

I keep wondering why APC carry Atiku matter for head like carton of gala lately I thought they are the ruling party

When Atichukwu starts giving them the Sheriff treatment, those idiots would start crying that he is mole planted by APC to destroy the party.

Isokowadoo:
Wat is Tambuwal doing in Sokoto in terms of Infrastructures, ?
Not in, or is it not Same governor that Paid 960million Naira to Sultan for no reason

He is busy building Mosque and has also empowered the youths with Ram/Cows during any festival.