2015: PDP hands over party structures to govs on November 03, 2014 / in Headlines (VANGUARD NEWSPAPER) By Soni Daniel & Henry Umoru ABUJA—THE People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governors have won a major victory over the party’s leadership ahead of the 2015 elections by securing the nod of the Presidency to control the political structures in their states. Under the new arrangement, which was wrapped up at the weekend, the outgoing governors have been given the go-ahead to pick their successors and also go for any other office of their choice provided they ensure maximum support for President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid. The new development will enable no fewer than seven PDP governors pick their successors and also go to the Senate next year. A top PDP official told Vanguard, yesterday that President Jonathan directed the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, to hand over the political structures in the respective states to the governors. The development, which has effectively strengthened the governors against all other contenders in their respective states, is however, against the party’s earlier position to allow a level playing field for all aspirants to contest the election. Muazu, it was learnt, had maintained that position until Friday afternoon when the Presidency reportedly asked him to allow the governors to have their way so as to give the President 100 per cent support during his election. The national chairman was reported to have insisted that the party structures should be managed by the national leadership of the party to ensure that every aspirant had a sense of equity and justice. Muazu had agreed with the governors to either choose their successors or go to the Senate rather than take the two simultaneously in order not to generate bad blood among the other stakeholders in the respective states. Powers of a governor However, the Presidency is said to have been warned by political strategists to reverse the position of the National Working Committee (NWC) headed by Muazu to win the support of the governors described as the key determinants of his victory. The presidential directive may have been responsible for the freedom given to most of the governors to decide on the delegate lists of their respective states to be used in choosing candidates for the different elections slated for next year. President Jonathan had two weeks ago alluded to the enormous powers of governors in deciding the fate of the President in presidential primary election. He said: “The PDP constitution as currently practised gives a lot of room for the governors to influence the election of the President. So, if a governor who claims to support you cannot give you at least 70 per cent of the votes, then you should know that that governor does not mean well for you.” Rat race in states In spite of the new directive from the Presidency, a host of the aspirants are upbeat on their chances ahead of the November 29 governorship primaries, if the number of those who have bought the PDP nomination forms is anything to go by. The PDP national leadership last Thursday extended the sale of forms for governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives and state houses of assembly elections. Vanguard gathered at the PDP National Secretariat that there was shortage of forms for aspirants, while the State Executive Committees were alleged to be hoarding the forms, only to return them unused at the end of the exercise. PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, last Thursday announced that the National Working, NWC, had extended the deadline for the sale of nomination forms for all categories of aspirants, which according to the party, ought to have closed on October 30. He added that sale of forms will now end this week. 24 PDP aspirants battle for governorship in Rivers For the Rivers race, 24 aspirants, as of last Friday had purchased their expression of interest and nomination forms to contest on the platform of the PDP for the seat presently occupied by Governor Chibuike Amaechi of the All Progressives Congress (APC). They are: Mr. Nyesom Wike Dr. Silva Orusunju Bernard Barida Mikko Emmanuel Georgewill Biobele Odesola Capt. Nwankwo Sunday Friday Abu Atedogh Hart Gabriel Pidomson Ibinabo Michael West Alabo Samuel Horsefall Baridam Monday Ngerebara Adamu Engr. Reynolds Dagago-Jack Duno Lulu-Briggs Prince Tonye Princewill Atamuno Atamuno Dumbari Dimkpa Fafaa Dan-Princewill Nimisoere Welson-Jack Oseleya Dominic Ojuka Major Lancelot Anyanya (rtd) Senator Lee Maeba Tamununosis Gogo Jaja Oden Ajumogobia. It’s 22 for Delta In Delta State, those who want Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan’s job and have purchased the PDP forms include: Victor Ochei Senator Ifeanyi Okowa Ovie Omoh-Agege Tony Chucks Obuh Professor Sylvester Monye Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo Elder Godsday Orubebe Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi Mrs Esther Uduehi Andrew Warri Ndudi Godwin Elumelu Opone Johnson Ossai Dr. Akwara Oghenovo Prince Sam Obi Ndidi Rose Ofonwe Abunam Ngozi Olejeme David Edevbie Godswill Monday Obielum Charles Chukwuemeka Chief Gabriel Chukwuma Oyibode Akwa Ibom: PDP gets 25 governorship racers In Akwa Ibom, there is a litany of 25 PDP hopefuls angling to succeed Governor Godswill Akpabio. In this league are: Senator Helen Esuene O Etteh Nsima Ekere Umana Okon Umana Obong Bassey Albert Ime Bassey Albert Benjamin Okoko Udom Emmanuel Asuquo Asuquo Okon David Stephen Okon Ekpenyong Eyo Ntekim Obong Bassey A. Akpan Prof. Richard Peters King Pastor Ita Uno Udoh Effiong Etim Abia. Amb. Assam Ekanem Assam Bishop Samuel Akpan Dr. Samuel Udonsak Okon Ikpong Dr. Jerome Isanngedihi Ime Effiong Ekanem Anietie Jonny U Udom Gabriel Emmanuel Lady Roberta Nyong Lawrence Bassey Esin Effiong Usim Dr. Peter Esuh Michael Etuk Engr. Patrick Akpan Imo: 22 for Okorocha’s jugular Those who want to sack Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State on the platform of the PDP are 22, namely: Senator Ifeanyi Araraume Chuka Odom Chief Ikedi Ohakim Senator Christiana Anyanwu Emeka Ihedioha Chief Charles Onyeabbako Evang. Chris Brown Amadi Senator Bright Nwanne Ifeyinwa Maureen Okafor Dr. Obioma Agomuwa Amb. Obinna Adim Humphrey Anumudu Prof. Jude Njoku Ken Njemanze (SAN) Bethel Nnameka Amadi Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN) Ken Ojiri Chief Clara Njoku Dr. Charles Amange Dr. Julius Kpaduwa Chief Jerry Chukwueke Obioma Success Akagburouke Abacha, Murtala Mohammed’s children enliven race in Kano For Kano State, those who want to succeed Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso on the banner of the PDP are sons of two former military heads of state – Mohammed Sani Abacha (late General Sani Abacha’s son) and Abba Risqua Murtala Muhammed (son of late General Murtala Muhammed) as well as Ahmed Mansur. Niger: 10 seek Aliyu’s ‘anointing’ There are 10 aspirants jostling to succeed Governor Aliyu Muazu Babanginda of Niger State. The aspirants are: Umar Mohammed Nasko Peter Ndobake Gana Alhaji Sale Sahabi Ahmed Musa Ibeto Col. Aminu Kontagora (rtd) Muazu Sarkin Sudan Hamfi Mustapha Bello Senator Nuhu Aliyu Alhaji Garba Mohammed Dukku Alhaji Mohammed Yahaya. The hot race in Oyo Those who purchased the PDP forms and want to stop Senator Abiola Ajimobi of the APC from getting a second term in Oyo State are: Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala Senator Teslim Folarin Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde Dr. Owolabi Babalola Prof. Taoheed Adedoja Engr. Femi Babalola Prof. David Adejumo Alhaji Hakeem Gbolarumi Dr. Azeez Adeduntan Ayo Ademola Adeseun In Benue, it’s 18-man contest The 18 contenders jostling for the PDP ticket to take over from Governor Gabriel Suswam in Benue are: Dr. Samuel Ortom Samuel Ode Chief Steven Lawani Prof. David Ker Chief Mike Aondoakaa Dr. Eugene Aliegba Adum Alex Tera Engr. Roseline Ada Chenge Dr. Matthias Oyigeya Terhemen Tarzoo Comrade Simon Anchaver Gabriel Twuhrm Nyitse Engr. Felix Atume Dr. James Twwuhe Mbachintin Prince Anov Akhayar Uwouki Terhemba Nongo Dr. Terhemba Shija Abia: 11 hopefuls fight for PDP ticket In Abia State, the 11 hoping to win the PDP flag and thereafter contest the governorship election to succeed Governor Theodore Orji are: Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe Senator Nkechi Nwaogu Dr. Uchechikwu Sampson Ogah F.N. Nwosu Chief Chukwuemeka Wogu Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu Orji Iheanacho Okezie Eric Acho Nwakanma Amb. Okechukwu Emuchay Dr. Alex Otti Marc Wabara.
Posted on: Mon, 03 Nov 2014 10:41:30 +0000
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