Did you know that there have been internal rancors among the key People’s Democratic Party members in the last few months over who becomes the party’s National Chairman?
There is also a group of people within the core PDP who feel that it’s high time for the party to present a new face for the next presidential election rather than sticking to the 77 years old Atiku Abubakar who will be 80 years old in 3 years, as the party’s flagbearer. These are some of the internal issues the PDP has been battling to resolve of late.
In the last few months of the PDP crisis, alot of issues have been raised among key party members . City People learnt that, this element within the PDP want a new face who will be the party standard bearer in the coming presidential election rather than going for same candidate who had already contested 3 times under the PDP and by year 2027, the said candidate will be around 80 years. So, some key party members are worried that things like this have to be resolved before the next presidential election.
One of the top PDP Cheftains had raised the issue a few months back. A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, a few months ago warned former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar not to attempt a presidential bid in 2027, warning that the clandestine moves being made on his behalf has been exposed.
He insisted that the party could not afford to field another northern candidate for the 2027 presidential election, saying such a move would take the party to the garbage heap of history.
“As a life member of the Board of Trustees (BoT), the Upper Chamber and the conscience of our party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), I am raising the alarm today that our party is at the precipice of a looming crisis, if pending critical party issues are not urgently addressed.
“I want to sound a note of warning to some gladiators in our great party, the PDP. If care is not taken, the party may become a ‘Garbage heap of history’ in 2027.
“We are determined to ensure that the PDP returns to the Presidential Villa in Abuja on May 29, 2027. But, we can only go back to Aso Rock if we are united, not divided. So, I don’t really understand the rethorics in some quarters these days that a member of the party from the North is strategizing or plotting to return as the presidential candidate of our party in 2027.
In another message to Atiku from Chief Bode George while appearing on Arise Television two months ago. He further appealed to the former Vice President to allow younger Nigerians have a chance to contest the 2027 presidential election.
He pointed out that Atiku, who was the standard bearer of the PDP in the last two presidential elections, would be 81 years old in 2027, and he would be too old by that time to govern the country.
“My brother Atiku Abubakar was 77 years old last year, and by 2027 he will be 81 years old. Atiku should give room for younger Nigerians, who still have the energy and the brain to develop the country,” he said.
“Atiku should be in a situation where he plays like the big uncle in the room or the elder in the room.
“I can not imagine anyone asking me to come and be a Minister now when I am almost 80 years. “Let’s mentor the younger generation, and let’s be consistent with our strong belief in our party norms.” he warned.
This belief is shared among many core PDP members and is one of the issues affecting the party till today. They are worried that the party is gradually turning to northern affairs, as key positions have been shared among the north.
This was why the current FCT Minister, Nnyesom Wike, insisted that he wouldn’t support the party presidential candidate in the last election if the party failed to remove Senator Iyorchia Ayu as the party’s National Chairman, because their presidential standard-bearer, Atiku was also from the north.
Presently, some key PDP members who are from the south, have also shown interest of vying for the PDP National Chairmanship. They said it’s their turn and nothing more. But a few weeks ago there was a meeting. The North Central caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, started consultations among party leaders to produce a national chairman from the zone to complete the truncated tenure of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu. It was reliably gathered that those in attendance agreed that the north central should serve out what was left of Ayu’s term, while Damagum whom most of them agreed, “has done well in acting capacity,” should revert to his original position as Deputy National Chairman.
The Chairmanship position will be keenly contested for in August when the NEC holds it’s meeting.
Meanwhile, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked Umar Damagum to continue as the acting national chairman of the party, pending the election of a new Chairman in August.
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