The meeting of southeast leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which was conveyed to produce consensus candidates for National Secretary, Auditor and other positions zoned to the region has ended in deadlock, JOURNALIST101 can report authoritatively.
Recall that the National Executive Council, NEC, of the party had okayed the Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi-led National Convention Zoning Committee recommendation which proposed the swapping of positions between the North and the South.
A source privy to the meeting told our correspondent that the position of the National Secretary is the bone of contention and even the incumbent National Organising Secretary, Austin Akobundu is interested in the job which many stakeholders isn’t disposed to allowing him have his way and his state; Abia isn’t in contention in the zoning arrangement.
According to the source, the tempo of the meeting which was held at Enugu State Government House on Thursday, changed when the position of National Secretary which many people thought had been micro zoned to Anambra State became a subject of debate.
“Everyone thought the position was going to Anambra State but there was a late minute master stroke which saw the position up for debate and surprisingly, there’s a majority opinion that Imo State should produce the National Secretary.
“This didn’t go down well with stakeholders from Imo State that saw the move as the voice of Jacob and body of Esau, alleging that a powerful Governor has a hand in the sudden change of plan.”
The source further said that baring any last minute change, a former Senator from Imo State will be given the position which some persons (particularly from Imo) has vowed to resist describing the emergence of the known ally of a South South Governor as a slight and insult to them and the entire Southeast PDP.
The story is the same for the position of National Auditor which was later zoned to Anambra State. Almost all the stakeholders from the state said they don’t know the person being projected to take the position.
“Only one stakeholder could attest to the membership of the candidate presented before the Southeast leaders. Others insisted that the candidate isn’t a member of their party and the meeting had to step the matter down.
“I can tell you that only Enugu and Ebonyi states could agree on their candidates and Enugu is putting forward a former Chairman of their state Independent Electoral Commission, to occupy the position zoned to them; Deputy National Auditor,” the source said.
The stakeholders are expected to reconvene on a later date for more consultations which will enable a consensus to be reached before the national conÂvention of the PDP.
