… Atiku, Kwankwaso, Saraki battle for relevance
*Chairman elect, Ayu, issues quit notice to APC
*18 of 21 candidates emerge by consensus
By Myke Uzendu
Governors elected under the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have perfected their total control of the major opposition party with the ‘hand picking’ of the newly elected 21 members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) at the just concluded National convention that took place from 30 – 31St October at the Eagle Square in Abuja.
The governors strategically positioned themselves for absolute control of the party structure following the ordeal of its embattled Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, who was kicked out through an ex-parte injunction by a High Court in Port Harcourt and later affirmed by an Appeal Court in Port Harcourt.
Announcing the outcome of the election, The Chief Returning Officer/ Chairman of the Electoral Sub-Committee, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State, declared Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as the new Chairman elect of the party at about 4.20am on Sunday in an election participated by 3,411 accredited delegates just as the election produced 165 invalid votes.
Gov.Fintiri, who is also the Chairman of the PDP 2021 National Convention Organizing Committee (NCOC), further announced Umar Iliya Damagum as winner of the office of Deputy National Chairman (North) with 2222 votes to defeat Hajiya Ina Ciroma who scored 365 votes.
Other contestants include Amb. Taofeek Arapaja that garnered 2004 votes to become Deputy National Chairman (South), defeating Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola who polled 705 votes.
For the office of National Youth Leader between two contenders from Kaduna State, Muhammed Kadade Suleiman scored 3,072 votes to defeat Usman Elkudan who polled 219.
The consensus candidates included: Dr Iyorchia Ayu, Benue, National Chairman; Senator Samuel Anyanwu, Imo, National Secretary; Hon. Ahmed Yayari Mohammed, Gombe, National Treasurer; and Hon. Umaru Bature, Sokoto, National Organising Secretary.
Other winners that emerged by consensus were Daniel Woyengikuro, Bayelsa, National Financial Secretary; Prof. Stella Effa-Attoe, Cross River, National Woman Leader; Kamaldeen Adeyemi Ajibade, SAN, Kwara State, National Legal Adviser; Hon. Debo Ologunagba, Ondo, National Publicity Secretary; Okechukwu Obiechina Daniel, Anambra, National Auditor; Arch. Setoji Kosheodo, Lagos, Deputy National Secretary and Ndubuisi Eneh David, Enugu, Deputy National Treasurer.
Others include: Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, Kebbi, Deputy National Publicity Secretary; Sen. Ighoyota Amori, Delta, Deputy National Organising Secretary; Hon. Adamu D.U Kamale, Adamawa, Deputy National Financial Secretary; Hajara Yakubu Wanka, Bauchi, Deputy National Women’s Leader; Timothy Osadolor, Edo, Deputy National Youth Leader; Barrister Okechukwu Osuoha, Abia, Deputy National Legal Adviser; and Hon. Abdulrahman Mohammed, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Deputy National Auditor.
In his acceptance speech, the Chairman elect said that the successful convention signals an end to the reign of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He said, “I want to sincerely appreciate the PDP family. When we started this party 23 – 24 years ago, we never in any way imagined that the journey will get us to this stage – a stage where we ruled for 16 years, we went into rough times but for anybody who will bother to see, PDP is back, and it is back to rescue Nigeria from the terrible mess we have been in the last six years.
“In two weeks time, you will see the power that will come back in PDP in every state. A small group of people decided to divide Nigeria. We will unite the country and move ahead to develop this country.
“We did it before; we will do it again. The other party can never hold a convention… It is a challenge. This is a quit notice to the other party. We are taking back the country. We will develop the country.
“I believe the other party can never hold a convention because even in states, they cannot hold congresses. They have produced 92 state chairmen for 36 states, how can they hold a successful convention which the PDP has done? We are waiting for them. This is a challenge to them. This is a quit notice for them. PDP is back and is taking back the country to develop it”.
In the build up to the election, The AUTHORITY learnt that The PDP governors were of the opinion that candidates should emerge by consensus so as to reduce rancor among candidates. To ensure that the plans were successfully executed, the governors after it was agreed by the Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi zoning committee that the present positions occupied by the North in the NWC should be switched with the South, went ahead to micro-zone it to candidates who in their estimation will fit into their 2023 permutations with less crises to the party.
The health challenges of the party’s Acting Chairman, Elder Yemi Akinwonmi no doubt created the needed opportunity for the governors to stamp their feet into party administration.
To ensure that they have firm control of the incoming NWC, the governors prevailed on the incumbent not to re contest or seek new positions. This move according, to a source, was to remove all relics of Secondus and create a new set of party executives that will be totally loyal to the governors and probably pave way for the emergence of their preferred candidates in 2023.
Former Senate President David Mark and Former governor of Niger State Bàbangida Aliyu were earlier working behind the scene to get the endorsement of party stakeholders including Atiku and Saraki when the position of National Chairman was microzoned to North Central. However, they buried their ambition and rallied round Ayu when it became obvious that Gov. Samuel Ortom, the only PDP governor in the zone was in support of Ayu who is his kinsman.
Also former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Senator Bukola Saraki, Sule Lamido worked assiduously to include former scribe of the party Olagunsoye Oyinlola. Onyinlola, who had earlier indicated interest for the office of National Chairman but when the zoning arrangement throw him out of the equation, he quickly settled for Deputy Chairman (South) where a fellow contestant from same Osun state, Prof. Wale Ladipo has also indicated interest.
It was further learnt that Atiku, Saraki and Lamido did everything possible to ‘smuggle’ Onyinlola into the winning list but met the resistance of a governor from the South West who was more favourably disposed to the candidacy of Taofeek Arapaja.
Few hours before balloting, Atiku, Saraki and Lamido made their way to different state pavilions to canvas last minute support for Oyinlola. The move, according to findings, was aimed at neutralizing the influence of the governors who have since hijacked the election process.
On the same note, the PDP governors also pleaded with Ciroma to shelve her ambition to give room to the emergence of Damagum as consensus Deputy Chairman (North). After unsuccessful entreaties, Ciroma went into the polls but lost to Damagum.
The position of National Secretary also had other contenders including Okey Muo-Aroh but they were disqualified to pave way for Senator Anyanwu. The governors turned blind eyes to the fact that he took the party to court and cleared him because of the National Assembly ties he shares with governors Ugwuanyi and Okowa of Delta state.
A member of the outgoing NWC disclosed in confidence that with the unsuccessful move of Atiku and his likes, governors have planted themselves as the undisputed owners of the party.
“Atiku and Saraki should realize that their time is over. If they want to pursue their 2023 ambitions, the governors would have a big say. What it means is that without the support of the governors, you can’t win a big position in the PDP of today. This is the message I think everyone should take home from this convention,” he said.
However, a mammoth crowd of supporters of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former governor of Kano state Rabiu Kwankwaso, governor of Bauchi State Bala Mohammed and governor of Sokoto State Aminu Tambuwal stormed the venue in their number with several campaign banners and music indicating the interest of their principal in the 2023 Presidency.
Speaking with journalists on the successes recorded at the convention, former Minister of Police Affairs, Adamu Maina Waziri, urged the leadership of the APC to be ready to concede defeat in 2023.
He said, “Just like we conceded in 2015, we expect the APC to concede massive defeat in 2023.
“The PDP will come to rebuild the country by providing the basic ingredients to government, which is security to lives and property, as well as infrastructural development.”he said.
Also speaking, a ranking senator, Biodun Olujimi (PDP, Ekiti), said the coast has become clear for the PDP to bounce back in 2023.
