Race For PDP Governors’ Forum Chairman Rages, As Wike Lobby For Tambuwal

Few weeks to the tenure of the Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, ends, together with his chairmanship of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, the battle to succeed him has begun to gain momentum.

At least three governors from the North are gearing up to contest the position, when it becomes vacant. The occupant is expected to be a critical factor in the next presidential election in 2023.

It was learnt that Governor Ryesom Wike of the Rivers State is lobbying for Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal.

The new Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, who will take over from the outgoing governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, is likely to emerge on Sunday before the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for Monday.

While it was gathered that the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike is lobbying for Tambuwal, it was also gathered that some governors are backing Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom as the rightful person for the position.

Those backing Ortom said that the Benue state governor has strong characters that cannot be easily manipulated, noting his position against the invasion of herdsmen in his state.

Recall that the position of the PDP Governors’ Forum started with former Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio in 2014, when a crisis of succession erupted in the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), with then Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State and Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State squaring up to each other.

Recall that after the tenure of former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, the pioneer Chairman of the Forum, who is from South-South, Olusegun Mimiko, former governor of Ondo State, who is from South-West took over. After his tenure, Ayo Fayose, former governor of Ekiti State, also from South-West took the position, before Ibrahim Dankwambo, former governor of Gombe State, from North East took over briefly, before the position came to Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson, from South-South.

North Central, North West and South-East are the zones that have not occupied the chairmanship position of the Forum.

A source close to one of the governors said that the governors are not too comfortable with Tambuwal as Chairman of the Forum, as he will use the Forum as pivotal for his ambition in 2023.

Recall Tambuwal contested against Atiku Abubakar during the PDP National Congress in Port Harcourt, where he emerged second.

It was further gathered that Wike, who was the arrow head of Tambuwal ambition in the past PDP national congress, where Atiku emerged as the party flag bearer, is already putting modality in place to ensure that the Sokoto State governor emerged as the Forum Chairman.

Meanwhile, Tambuwal is the Deputy Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum, the overall body of the 36 states governors across party line.

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