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Those jostling for the ticket include a former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, a former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, a former Governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed Makarfi, and a former Minister of Special Duties, Alhaji Kabiru Tanimu Turaki.

Others are a former Senate President, David Mark, a former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, a former Governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa, a former Governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, Founder of Baze University, Sen. Datti Baba-Ahmed and Mr. Stanley Osifo.

Barring any last minute change of decision, PDP will tomorrow hold its national convention in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, where delegates will elect the party’s 2019 presidential candidate.

Sources told Daily Trust yesterday that there was tension in the PDP as different camps were routing for different aspirants based on different interests.

Intrigues and scheming are reportedly playing out among members of the National Working Committee (NWC), Board of Trustees (BoT), National Assembly Caucus, PDP Governors Forum, PDP ex-Ministers Forum and other organs.

The Sen. Walid Jibrin-led BoT tried to come up with a consensus candidate but failed. The organ did not also succeed in trimming the number, with sources saying all the aspirants insist on testing their popularity.

“But one thing all the party organs believe in is the desire to field an untainted presidential candidate that would give President Muhammadu Buhari a good fight,” one of the sources said.

Another source said they also wanted someone who would have immunity till May 29, 2019.

The Nigerian Constitution lists the president, vice president, governors and deputy governors among those qualified to have immunity.

Some PDP leaders who spoke with our correspondent in separate interviews said a governor would most likely emerge as candidate of the party.

Only Tambuwal and Dankwambo are serving governors in the race.

But another source said “regional card” would also play out in Port Harcourt. “There are some elements inn the North Central, or call it Middle Belt if you like, that want to produce the presidential candidate,” he said.

According to him, “That is why you have the likes of Sen. David Mark, Sen. Jonah Jang and most importantly, Sen. Bukola Saraki in the race.”

Most PDP officials refused to speak on the matter.

“Tambuwal is likely to emerge because he is in the good books of leading PDP governors and even highly placed traditional rulers and ex-military leaders,” one of them said.

He added that, “Gov. Wike in particular is championing the cause for Tambuwal to emerge and you can see how powerful and influential he has become in the PDP.

“He was angry recently when the party was considering holding the convention in Abuja. His fears were that his candidate would likely lose to another aspirant if the convention did not take place in Port Harcourt,” he said.

The source, however, warned that if Wike and some governors “impose” a candidate at the convention, the fortunes of the party would dwindle.

Another source, however, said Atiku was one of the aspirants to watch closely.

He confided in our correspondent that Atiku was gaining grounds from states that were not being controlled by the PDP.

He added that the former vice president was taking over delegates in those states, adding that in the event Tambuwal did not emerge, Atiku would be an option considering his deep pocket and experience in different sectors.

Daily Trust findings reveal that Makarfi is also in the frontline, considering his unifying skills and the role he played during the party’s dark days.

Yet there are some party leaders who are routing for either Kwankwaso or Lamido, believing that if any of them wins the PDP ticket, he would be accepted in the North and South. The prediction is the same on Sen. Baba-Ahmed, who reportedly enjoys the support of some invisible hands and the youths.

Most of the aspirants carried out rigorous campaigns, including visit to states and consultations with former leaders and elder statesmen.

Above all, it was learnt that some aspirants will likely step down for others in Port Harcourt before the primary begins.

 

 

Via Daily Trust

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