The loyalists of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and a former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki have intensified their alleged quest to take charge of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) machinery and truncate the bid for a southern presidential candidate.
Atiku and Saraki’s loyalists are said to be plotting to take control of the party so as to retain the presidency in the north in 2023.
Part of their plan is to institute a court case against the party to ensure the return of the immediate past chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus.
Meanwhile, the southern leaders in the party have micro zoned the offices zoned to the region. While the southwest will get the National Secretary and National Women leader, the southeast will produce the National Publicity Secretary, National Financial Secretary, and Deputy National Secretary.
According to the zoning arrangement, the Deputy National Chairman and National auditor will emerge from the south-south.
A report by ThisDay newspaper indicates that northern leaders are considering the adoption of a consensus option to select the chairman of the PDP, following the zoning of the office to the region.
The report, however, reveals that a former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark and a former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido are front-runners in the race for the position.
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Lamido is believed to be backed by the loyalists of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, while Mark is said to be supported by the loyalists of former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd); a former National Security Adviser (NSA), Gen. Aliyu Gusau, and some other northern elders.
Also in the race are former Governors Babangida Aliyu of Niger State; Ahmed Makarfi of Kaduna State; Ibrahim Dankwabo of Gombe State; Ibrahim Idris of Kogi State, and Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State.
The party’s outgoing deputy national chairman, Senator Suleiman Nazif has also indicated interest, while a former Senate President, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, and Professor Jerry Gana are also believed to be in the race.
