Party’s fate hangs in the balance

In addition, he argued that the zone ought to be rewarded for keeping faith with the party, by electing him as the next chairman. However, opponents have been sniping at his record, especially when he held sway at Wadata Plaza as acting national chairman. According to reports, Secondus could not account for the N11 billion that was realised from sale of nomination forms in 2014.

Severally, he explained that 30 per cent of the money was shared to the states, local governments as well as the six geopolitical zones across the country for election purposes. Afterwards, about N5 billion was kept aside for the completion of the party secretariat. However, after President Goodluck Jonathan’s defeat, ‘’the presidential campaign organisation could not raise money for other elections and the leaders said the money reserved should be used,’’ he had explained. Expectedly, the governors of south-south are solidly behind Secondus.

Similarly, Professor Adeniran is another frontline candidate for the chairmanship position. The former minister of education, said he is a gentleman with ideas and that is what PDP needs at this stage. According to him, ‘’the belief in some quarters that the party does not need a gentleman as leader is an insult not only to the party, but every member.’’

He pointed out that leadership is not about thuggery or violence, but ideas, passion, vision and commitment. “PDP needs a leader with the right vision, passion for good leadership qualities and a leader with right experience,’’ the former minister said. According to Adeniran, his academic and political background as a political science professor and former minister, make him suitable for the seat.

“I am passionate about repositioning the party and I am brimming with ideas and vision to return the party to winning ways,’’ he further said. Separately, the North-west and North east geopolitical zones have endorsed him. However, Adeniran is like the proverbial prophet as his Ekiti state governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, said that he is not even aware that the professor is running for the national chairmanship of the PDP.

Similarly, Chief George will also contest in today’s election and he has been brandishing his rich experience as former military governor, ex deputy National Chairman and NPA Chairman to sway delegates. George, an apostle of micro zoning, has been endorsed by his Lagos state as the best man for the job. In the same vein, he had promised that if given the opportunity, ‘’I will not be new to the management of this party because the party’s constitution is not going to be new to me; I know its provisions as I know the back of my hand.’’

According to him, ‘ the founding fathers handed over the culture of the party to us and that is what we would re-establish.’’ Like Secondus, George said that this is not the time when PDP will experiment with a political neophyte.

“Just check out, from the end of our convention to the national election is a very short time, it is not a time where you can do experimentation, it is not a time you can bring a greenhorn to be the chairman of the party,’’ he had argued.

However, in spite of his experience, opponents say that his alleged corruption cases will hamper George as party chairman. According to them, the ruling APC can easily unleash the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on him when George emerges as PDP’s helmsman.

At a point, he challenged other candidates to a debate on how to reposition the party to seize power at the centre.

Adeniran, George accuse Makarfi of bias

Significantly, in the run up to the convention, allegations of bias were hurled at Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi , the Caretaker Committee Chairman, by the two leading south west candidates.

Separately, Adeniran and Chief George had expressed lack of confi dence in him. Pointedly, they accused him of favouring Secondus and George was the most vocal. George, speaking through Alhaji Ibrahim Aliu, the Director-General of the Bode George Campaign Organisation (BGCO) had called on Makarfi to resign because “he is already tarred and soiled in the muddy waters of partisan prejudice.” The BGCO Director-General, who accused the PDP chairman of nursing a personal ambition of contesting for the Presidential office in 2019, said Makarfi could no longer play the role of a neutral arbiter.

“ Makarfi ’s action, to put it mildly, is sickening, untoward, blatantly tendentious , totally stripped of the typical moral high ground that often defines a well meaning, God- fearing arbitrating leadership,’’ Alhaji Ibrahim said. According to him, Makarfi wants to repeat the mistake of Port Harcourt which ended in a fiasco.

On his part, Senator Makarfi had dismissed the allegations and up till yesterday, nothing concrete had been found against him.

 Okowa committee promises hitch-free convention

Monday, Senator Makarfi inaugurated the National Planning Committee, headed by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state, to ensure a free, fair and credible convention which will not be hijacked by anyone or groups. Specifically, the caretaker committee chairman asked party members to cooperate with the Okowa committee. Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Governor Dairus Ishaku of Taraba state, said that the party had done a lot for the country and that it is time to work hard and return it to power for further development.

He advised the winners of today’s convention to work with other contestants to keep the party united. Senator Jibril said that the BoT does not have any favourites in oday’s elections. In addition, he promised that they will work with all relevant stakeholders to ensure a hitch-free convention. Similarly, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Dr Gooluck Jonathan, immediate past president of Nigeria, also said they have no favorite candidates.

Last Thursday, Governor Okowa said that the convention’s sub committees have submitted their reports, assuring that all is set for today’s event. However, the way and manner today’s convention is held, will not just be a litmus test for PDP’s ambition to reclaim the presidency in 2019, but will also be a mirror of what to expect at the presidential primaries. Similarly, managing the outcome of today’s election will prove a harder nut to crack than what Senator Markafi and his caretaker committee did throughout the interregnum and what Governor Okowa’s Convention Planning Committee achieved in the last five days.

 

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